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AVERY  FINE  ARTS  RESTRICTED 


AR01 395602 


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Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


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PitINT   OF  J.    1{.    IIlTH,   372   PEAHI.   STI!KKT.    N.  Y, 


fmxttal  Seitkee. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/inmemoriamedwindOOunse 


The  funeral  of  Edwin  Denison  Morgan  was 
celebrated  at  the  Brick  Presbyterian  Church,  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Thirty-seventh  Street,  New  York, 
on  Friday,  February  i6th,  1883,  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  The  day  was  dark  and  stormy, 
but  long  before  the  hour  appointed  for  the  ser- 
vices a  great  number  of  people  had  gathered 
at  the  church.  The  relatives  and  many  of  the 
intimate  friends  of  the  departed  were  assembled 
at  his  late  residence,  and  there  a  brief  prayer 
was  offered  by  his  pastor,  who  besought  the 
presence  and  comfort  of  the  Divine  Spirit  for 
the  bereaved  family  and  the  blessing  of  God 
upon  the  funeral  services.  Then  the  coffin  was 
closed ;  the  palms  of  victory  and  the  lilies  of 
peace  were  laid  upon  it ;  and  the  body  of  the 
master  of  the  house  was  carried  forth  from  his 
earthly  home  to  the  House  of  God  which  he 
had  loved  so  well,  and  where  he  had  so  often 
worshipped. 


6 

The  clergymen  walked  before  the  coffin.     The 

pall-bearers    who    followed    were  : 

Chester  A.  Arthur,  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 

Hamilton  Fish,  John  Jacob  Astor, 
Robert  Lenox  Kennedy,       Franklin  Carter, 

John  A.  Stewart,  William  H.  Macy, 

Augustus  Schell,  J.  Pierpont  Morgan, 

S.  O.  Vanderpoel,  Cornelius  R.  Agnew, 

John  D.  Jones,  Henry  Day, 

Thomas  C.  Acton,  '       Benj.  F.  Dunning, 

John  E.  Parsons,  Thomas  Hillhouse, 

A.  A.  Low,  Hugh  J.  Jewett. 

The    members    of    the    family    present    were  : 

Mrs.  E.  D.  Morgan  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  D.  Morgan, 
Jr.  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dresbach  ;  Mrs.  McCorkle,  of  Phila- 
delphia ;  Major  and  Mrs.  A.  E.  Bates,  of  Washington  ; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Rowland  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Bay- 
ard Henry,  of  Philadelphia ;  Master  Morgan  Water- 
man ;  Miss  Ida  Waterman  ;  Mrs.  Henry  Waterman  ;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  W.  F.  and  Miss  Morgan  ;  Mrs.  Dahlgren  ; 
Lieutenant  Governor  W.  G.  Bulkeley,  of  Hartford  ; 
Mayor  Morgan  Bulkeley,  of  Hartford  ;  H.  K.  Morgan, 
Jr.,  of  Hartford  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  D.  Morgan  ;  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  H.  P.  Morgan  and  Miss  Morgan,  of  Brook- 
lyn ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  D.  Morgan;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  H. 
Morgan  ;  William  F.  A.  Sill,  of  Windsor,  Conn.  ;  Mr. 
and  Miss  Joslyn  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  A.  Vyse,  Jr.,  of 
Staten  Island  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  H.  Morgan,  of  Brooklyn  ; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Sterling  ;  Frederick  Green  and 
Henry    Green,    of   Orange,    N.    J. 


As  the  funeral  procession  entered  the  mid- 
dle aisle,  the  great  congregation,  which  filled 
every  part  of  the  church,  rose  and  remained 
standinof  in  silence  until  the  coffin  was  laid 
before  the  pulpit  and  the  music  of  the  dirge 
had  died  away. 

The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  Henry  J.  van  Dyke,  Jr.,  the  pastor  of  the 
Brick  Church.  Addresses  were  made  by  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Roswell  D.  Hitchcock,  President  of 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
James  O.  Murray,  of  Princeton  College.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  of  the  P^ifth  Avenue  Pres- 
byterian Church,   offered  the  closing  prayer. 


THE    SERVICES, 


''  *  The  Lord  irave :  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away  :  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  Let 
us  pray  : 

''  Eternal  and  ever-blessed  God,  Thou  art  our 
refuge  and  our  strength,  a  very  present  help 
in  time  of  trouble.  In  the  dark  and  cloudy 
day  we  look  to  Thee  for  light.  In  the  hour 
of  pain  and  grief  we  come  to  Thee  for  com- 
fort. Have  mercy  upon  us,  good  Lord,  we 
beseech  Thee ;  have  mercy  upon  us,  and  help 
us,  and  save  us.  Shine  Thou  upon  us  with 
the  light  of  Thy  love  in  the  face  of  Jesus 
Christ.  May  our  faith  in  Him  support  and 
console  us.  May  Thy  Holy  Spirit,  the  Com- 
forter, descend  and  dwell  with  us  in  this  hour. 
Yea,  even  in  the  presence  of  death  and  in  the 
day  of  bereavement  may  our  hearts  be  filled 
with  that  peace  which  passeth  understanding, 
through  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord  and  Saviour, 
Amen." 


HYMN. 


My    faith    looks    up    to  Thee, 
Thou    Lamb   of  Calvary, 

Saviour   divine  ! 
Now   hear   me  while    I    pray; 
Take   all   my   guilt   away  ; 
O,    let   me   from  this   day 

Be   wholly   Thine. 

While    Life's   dark   maze    I    tread. 
And   griefs   around   me   spread, 

Be    Thou    my   guide ; 
Bid   darkness   turn   to   day. 
Wipe   sorrow's   tears   away, 
Nor  let   me   ever   stray 

From    Thee   aside. 

When   ends   life's   transient   dream, 
When   death's   cold,    sullen    stream 

Shall   o'er   me   roll. 
Blest   Saviour,  then   in    love, 
Fear  and   distrust  remove ; 
O,    bear   me   safe   above, 

A    ransomed   soul ! 


lO 
SCRIPTURE    LESSONS. 


Lord,  Thou  hast  been  our  dwelling  place  in  all  genera- 
tions. Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth,  or  ever 
Thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world,  even  from  ever- 
lasting to  everlasting.  Thou  art  God.  Thou  turnest  man  to 
destruction,  and  sayest.  Return,  ye  children  of  men.  For  a 
thousand  years  in  Thy  sight  are  but  as  yesterday  when  it  is 
past,  and  as  a  watch  in  the  night.  Thou  carriest  them  away 
as  with  a  flood  ;  they  are  as  a  sleep  ;  in  the  morning  they 
are  like  grass  which  groweth  up.  In  the  morning  it  flourish- 
eth  and  groweth  up  ;  in  the  evening  it  is  cut  down  and 
withereth.  The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and 
ten  ;  and  if  by  reason  of  strength  they  be  fourscore  years, 
yet  is  their  strength  labor  and  sorrow  ;  for  it  is  soon  cut  off, 
and  we  fly  away.  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we 
may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom.  O  satisfy  us  early  with 
Thy  mercy,  that  we  may  rejoice,  and  be  glad  all  our  days. 

Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end 
of  that  man  is  peace.  Thou  shalt  come  to  thy  grave  in  a  full 
age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his  season.  And  even 
to  your  old  age  I  am  He  ;  and  even  to  hoar  hairs  will  I  carry 
you  ;  I  have  made  and  I  will  bear  ;  even  I  will  carry,  and  I 
will  deliver  you. 

The  Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want.  He  maketh 
me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures  ;  He  leadeth  me  beside  the 
still  waters.  He  restoreth  my  soul  ;  He  leadeth  me  in  the 
paths  of  righteousness  for  His  name's  sake.  Yea,  though  I 
walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no 
evil  ;  for  Thou  art  with  me  ;  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  they 
comfort  me. 


Blessed  be  God,  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
the  Father  of  mercies,  and  the  God  of  all  comfort,  who  com- 
forteth  us  in  all  our  tribulation,  that  we  may  be  able  to  com- 
fort them  which  are  in  any  trouble,  by  the  comfort  wherewith 
we  ourselves  are  comforted  of  God.  For  as  the  sufferings  of 
Christ  abound  in  us,  so  our  consolation  also  aboundeth  by 
Christ.  Now,  no  chastening  for  the  present  seemeth  to  be 
joyous,  but  grievous  ;  nevertheless,  afterward  it  yieldeth  the 
peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness  unto  them  which  are  exercised 
thereby. 

But  some  man  will  say,  How  are  the  dead  raised  up  ? 
and  with  what  body  do  they  come  ?  Thou  fool  ;  that  which 
thou  sowest  is  not  quickened,  except  it  die.  And  that  which 
thou  sowest,  thou  sowest  not  that  body  that  shall  be,  but 
bare  grain,  it  may  chance  of  wheat,  or  of  some  other  grain. 
But  God  giveth  it  a  body  as  it  hath  pleased  Him,  and  to  every 
seed  his  own  body.  All  flesh  is  not  the  same  flesh  ;  but  there 
is  one  kind  of  flesh  of  men,  another  flesh  of  beasts,  another 
of  fishes,  and  another  of  birds.  There  are  also  celestial 
bodies,  and  bodies  terrestrial,  but  the  glory  of  the  celestial  is 
one,  and  the  glory  of  the  terrestrial  is  another.  There  is  one 
glory  of  the  sun,  and  another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  another 
glory  of  the  stars  ;  for  one  star  differeth  from  another  star  in 
glory.  So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  It  is  sown  in 
corruption,  it  is  raised  in  incorruption.  It  is  sown  in  dis- 
honor, it  is  raised  in  glory  ;  it  is  sown  in  weakness,  it  is  raised 
in  power.  It  is  sown  a  natural  body,  it  is  raised  a  spiritual 
body.  There  is  a  natural  body,  and  there  is  a  spiritual  body. 
Now,  this  I  say,  brethren,  that  flesh  and  blood  cannot  inherit 
the  kingdom  of  God  ;  neither  doth  corruption  inherit  incor- 
ruption.    Behold  I  show   you    a  mystery.     We  shall  not   all 


12 


sleep,  but  we  shall  all  be  changed.  In  a  moment,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump  ;  for  the  trumpet  shall 
sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  incorruptible,  and  we  shall 
be  changed.  For  this  corruptible  must  put  on  incorruption, 
and  this  mortal  must  put  on  immortality.  So  when  this  cor- 
ruptible shall  have  put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  shall 
have  put  on  immortality,  then  shall  be  brought  to  pass  the 
saying  that  is  written.  Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.  O 
death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ? 
The  sting  of  death  is  sin  ;  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law. 
But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

After  this  I  beheld,  and  lo,  a  great  multitude,  of  all  nations, 
and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues,  stood  before  the 
throne,  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and 
palms  in  their  hands,  and  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying  : 
Salvation  to  our  God  which  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto 
the  Lamb.  And  all  the  angels  stood  round  about  the  throne, 
and  about  the  elders  and  the  four  beasts,  and  fell  before  the 
throne  on  their  faces,  and  worshipped  God.  Saying  :  Amen  ; 
blessing,  and  glory,  and  wisdom,  and  thanksgiving,  and  honor, 
and  power,  and  might,  be  unto  our  God  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen.  And  one  of  the  elders  answered,  saying  unto  me  : 
What  are  these  which  are  arrayed  in  white  robes  ?  and 
whence  came  they  ?  And  I  said  unto  him,  Sir,  thou  knowest. 
And  he  said  to  me  :  These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great 
tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes,  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Therefore  are  they  before 
the  throne  of  God,  and  serve  Him  day  and  night  in  His  temple; 
and  He  that  sitteth  on  the  throne  shall  dwell  among  them. 
They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  ;  neither 


^3 

shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat.  For  the  Lamb 
which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed  them,  and  shall 
lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters  ;  and  God  shall 
wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  van  Dyke  then  said : 
''  How  noble  and  how  clear  is  the  lesson  of 
a  good  life!  How  solemn  and  how  sweet  the 
memory  of  a  Christian  death  !  How  precious 
the  hopes  of  immortality  and  reunion  through 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ !  These  are  ours  to-day. 
I  cannot  now  speak  to  you  of  the  departed. 
Other  and  more  worthy  lips  will  pay  the  tribute 
of  honor  to  his  memory  ;  but  for  myself  I  would 
hush  the  voice  of  grief,  and  upon  that  great, 
loving  heart,  now  at  rest  after  sharp  anguish, 
I  would  lay  the  tribute  of  a  deep  and  lasting 
affection.  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in 
the  Lord.  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  for  they  rest 
from  their  labors  and  their  works  do  follow 
them." 

The  Rev.   Dr.   Murray  spoke  as  follows  : 
''  We     assemble    in    the    House    of    God     to- 
day   under    circumstances    of    unusual    solemnity. 
For    abroad    and    at    home,    so    many    eminent 


men  —  eminent  In  all  callings  of  life  —  have 
died  within  recent  months  and  days,  that 
thoughtful  men  give  pause,  and  brought  thus 
consciously  under  the  *  power  from  endless  life,' 
are  moved  to  humble  themselves  under  the 
mighty    hand    of    God. 

''  Of  these  noteworthy  men,  Governor  Mor- 
gan, the  last  who  has  fallen,  deserves  in  these 
funeral  services  some  earnest  tribute  from  those 
who  knew  him  and  honored  him.  A  more  ex- 
tended memorial  of  his  life  and  career  will  ap- 
propriately be  given  by  his  pastor  on  the  com- 
ing Sabbath.  Now,  and  for  these  services,  it 
is  only  incumbent  on  me  to  traverse  rapidly  the 
steps  of  that  ascending  career,  in  order  to  es- 
timate duly  the  life  in  its  wholeness :  still  fur- 
ther, to  give  some  full  and  tender  utterance  to 
the  public  sentiment  of  loss  and  grief  and 
veneration.  He  was  born  amid  the  hills  of 
Berkshire,  Massachusetts,  the  son  of  a  New 
England  farmer,  in  1811.  He  had,  as  his  capi- 
tal in  life,  what  a  New  England  home  and  a 
New  England  training  have  given  to  so  many 
men    of    mark    in    our    country,   capacity  for  self- 


T5 

development.  He  had  his  own  way  to  make  in 
Hfe,  but  he  had  been  taught — and  he  never  for- 
got the  lesson — that  all  paths  to  great  success,  that 
is,  success  won  on  the  highest  levels  of  achieve- 
ment, lie  open  to  industry,  integrity,  grasp  of 
intellect  and  inflexible  will.  Beginning  his  ca- 
reer in  the  year  1828,  at  the  City  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  as  a  mercantile  apprentice,  he  at  once 
proved  that  he  had  naturally  and  by  training 
every  quality  of  a  successful  man  of  business. 
Nay  more,  he  seems  even  then,  in  this  early 
stage  of  his  life,  to  have  shown  something  of 
that  large  aptitude  for  civic  affairs  which  his 
later  years  brought  out  so  conspicuously.  For 
he  had  hardly  passed  his  majority  when  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  City  Council  of 
Hartford.  However  it  may  be  to-day,  the  tra- 
ditional policy  of  New  England  towns  then 
stringently  exacted  of  their  officials  ability  and 
integrity.  They  were  by  apt  phraseology  called 
select  men. 

''  Next,  in  the  unfolding  of  his  life,  comes  the 
change  of  business  arena,  from  Hartford  to 
this    city,    in    the    year    1836.       The    scene    was 


i6 

changed,  but  it  brought  no  change  in  the  es- 
sential characteristics  of  the  man.  He  brought 
with  him  here  his  abihties,  his  experience,  his 
high  ambition,  and  his  principles.  There  is  one 
act  of  his  early  career  here,  to  which  the  city 
press  has  rightly  called  attention,  and  which 
should  be  again  emphasized  in  this  hour  and 
place.  When  this  metropolis  was  visited  by  the 
cholera  in  1849,  Governor  Morgan  promptly  re- 
fused to  leave  the  stricken  city.  He  brought  at 
once  to  the  service  of  the  sick  and  the  dying  his 
calm  courage,  his  wise,  unwasting  energy,  his 
personal  devotion.  Increased  hospital  room  was 
an  absolute  necessity,  and  his  force  and  wisdom 
secured  it  in  the  use  of  the  public  school  build- 
ings for  that  purpose.  It  was  only  a  prophecy 
of  what  was  in  the  man  by  way  of  resources, 
when  in  the  time  of  our  imperilled  national 
life  he  was  fulfilling  the  high  office  of  Governor 
of  the  State  of  New  York.  For  above  all  else, 
that  time  called  for  men  who  could  calmly, 
wisely  and  efficiently  meet  great  exigencies.  No 
man,  who  has  not  lived  through  those  times  of 
high  excitement,  fearful  suspense,  wearing  anxiety. 


17 

and,  by  consequence,  been  endowed  with  a  keener 
sense  of  the  great  issues  involved,  can  ever  fully 
appreciate  what  the  nation  owes  to  such  men  as 
Governor  Moro^an.  All  his  sicrnal  business  ca- 
pacities,  and  all  his  ample  stock  of  cool,  delib- 
erate, patient  energy,  his  wise  comprehension 
of  the  drift  of  events,  his  clear-sighted  instinct 
of  the  right  men  for  the  right  place — all  were 
brought  into  play,  and  he  has,  perhaps,  won  his 
most  enduring  fame  in  the  great  services  ren- 
dered his  country  through  his  office  as  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  New  York. 

''  It  was  but  in  fittinor  recoo^nition  of  these 
services  as  deserving  high  tokens  of  public  ap- 
proval, that  he  was  chosen  a  Senator  from  the 
State  of  New  York.  His  gubernatorial  career 
covers  the  period  between  the  years  1858  and 
1863  ;  his  senatorial  career,  that  from  1863  to 
1869.  Years  more  critical  in  our  national  history 
cannot  be  found,  unless  we  find  them  in  some 
years  immediately  following  the  adoption  of  the 
Constitution,  when  the  cabinet  of  Washington 
was  rent  by  feuds,  and  tendencies  toward  dis- 
ruption   began    to    show    themselves.      It    seems 


i8 

enough  now  to  say  of  his  pubHc  career,  that  it 
bears  all  through  the  marks  of  stainless  purity. 
That  is  high  praise.  But  beyond  this  it  must 
be  said  that  Governor  Morgan,  by  his  integrity 
and  force  of  character,  has  been  singularly  and 
happily  exempt  from  the  shafts  of  political 
opponents. 

''  Governor  Morgan,  It  will  have  been  seen, 
belonged  to  the  class  known  as  successful  mer- 
chants. From  first  to  last,  he  won  a  large  and 
influential  success.  Three  centuries  ago,  the 
ablest  pen  in  English  literature  described  them 
as  '  royal '  merchants.  We  reach  a  nobler 
designation  when  we  can  describe  them  as 
Christian  merchants.  For  surely  the  Christian 
philanthropy  of  such  men  as  Amos  and  Abbot 
Lawrence,  of  Boston,  John  F.  Slater,  of  Nor- 
wich, Conn.,  William  E.  Dodge  and  Governor 
Morgan  of  New  York,  deserves  such  a  title.  It 
is  therefore  with  blessed  satisfaction  that  we 
may  turn  from  all  business  successes,  however 
brilliant — from  all  services  to  the  nation,  how- 
ever lofty — and  trace  briefly  his  career  as  a 
Christian.      What  to  him   now  is  all   that   human 


19 

truth  can  utter  or  human  hearts  feel  !  What  is 
not  to  him  now  his  faith  in  the  gospel  of 
Christ — any  service,  the  humblest  as  well  as  the 
greatest,  he  was  permitted  to  render  the  cause 
of    his    Divine    Master    on    earth ! 

*'  He  first  made  a  public  profession  of  his 
faith  in  Christ  in  the  year  1847,  connecting 
himself  with  the  University  Place  church,  then 
under  the  care  of  the  Reverend  Dr.  Potts.  On 
his  removal  to  the  upper  part  of  the  city, 
having  purchased  a  residence  directly  opposite 
the  Brick  Church,  then  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Reverend  Dr.  Spring,  he  became  a 
member  of  it.  Coming  to  this  city  in  1865  as 
associate  pastor  of  the  Brick  Church,  I  found 
him  among  my  parishioners.  For  several  years 
his  public  duties  called  him  away  from  the  city 
during  the  greater  part  of  the  year.  As  he  laid 
aside  his  public  cares,  he  gave  himself  more 
and  more  to  care  for  the  church.  He  gave  his 
time  and  means  and  counsels  to  promote  its 
welfare.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  its 
session  ;  declining  that  office,  he  discharged  for 
years   the   responsible  duties    of    president    of    its 


20 

board  of  trustees.  He  was  never  a  man  of 
mere  religious  emotions.  He  was  a  regular  and 
punctual  attendant  on  the  church  services,  re- 
buking decidedly  on  one  occasion — a  time  of 
high  political  excitement— an  attempt  to  take 
him  from  the  house  of  God,  In  order  to  consult 
on  some  public  issue.  But  though  he  gave  few 
outward  signs  of  religious  emotion,  he  would  be 
strangely  misjudged  If  he  were  supposed  to  have 
only  a  religion  of  frigid  principles  or  decorous 
form.  On  fit  occasions  genuine  emotion  could 
be  displayed,  as  those  who  have  known  him  in 
the  Intercourse  of  his  home,  and  as  his  dying 
utterances  abundantly  testify.  His  last  years 
were  overshadowed  by  two  great  griefs,  the 
loss  of  his  only  son  and  the  loss  of  his  most 
tenderly  beloved  daughter-in-law.  These  griefs 
followed  each  other  in  quick,  sharp  succession. 
He  bore  them  with  that  well  known  outward 
demeanor  of  calmness  and  courage.  But  his 
sensibilities  quivered  under  the  shocks,  and  his 
character  softened  and  mellowed  under  the 
strokes.  The  closing  years  of  his  life  were  most 
mark(;d     b)'     this     Interest     In     spiritual    things — 


21 

Specially  by  increasing  devotion  to  the  welfare 
of  this  church.  I  utter  the  sentiment  of  a 
congregation  and  pastor  grateful  for  what  he 
has  done  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Brick 
Church.  I  express  the  sense  of  a  profound  and 
almost  irreparable  loss  in  this  stage  of  the 
church's  history. 

"  The  end  came  to  him  not  wholly  unex- 
pected. It  was  said  to  me  last  autumn,  by 
one  who  knew  him  well,  that  he  was  looking 
death  in  the  face,  and  that  he  was  as  ever 
brave,  but  solemn,  in  view  of  the  end.  He 
knew  a  not  much  longer  life  was  appointed  him. 
But  he  did  well  in  keeping  to  his  activities. 
Having  set  his  house  in  order — having  reposed 
his  trust  for  many  years  in  the  mercy  of  his 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  believing  simply,  but 
deeply,  in  the  truths  of  the  blessed  Gospel — he 
was  ready  for  the  final  summons.  A  fortnight 
ago  he  found  his  accustomed  way  to  the  house 
of  God,  but  with  evident  feebleness  and  diffi- 
culty. Then  came  on  last  Sunday  the  vain  at- 
tempt to  take  once  more  his  place  among  the 
gathering    worshippers.       Then,    and    how    soon 


22 

after,  the  sharp,  final  agony  of  dying  ;  and  then 
the  struggle,  borne  so  patiently ;  and  then  the 
brief  unconsciousness  ;  and  then,  and  forever 
and  ever,  the  '  rest  that  remaineth  to  the  peo- 
ple of  God,'  the  '  eternal  weight  of  glory.' 

''This  brief  memorial  and  tribute  would  be 
incomplete  without  some  reference  to  the  char- 
acteristic Christian  services  of  Governor  Mor- 
gan in  his  late  liberal  charities  to  institutions 
in  this  city  and  elsewhere.  The  ampler  and 
worthier  notice  will  be  undertaken  by  other 
hands.  It  is,  however,  In  place  for  me  now, 
from  my  personal  knowledge  of  him  and  from 
conversations  with  him,  to  emphasize  his  motive 
for  his  philanthropies  as  distinctively  the  Chris- 
tian motive.  '  Two  things,'  he  said  to  me  once, 
'  have  led  me  to  turn  some  portion  of  my 
wealth  Into  these  channels.  First,  it  seemed  to 
me  the  part  of  one  who  had  amassed  his  prop- 
erty in  a  great  city,  to  do  something  for  its 
welfare — for  institutions  in  its  bounds.  Secondly, 
in  my  gifts  to  the  Union  Theological  Seminary 
I  was  desirous  of  promoting  interests  of  the 
Christian    church,    and    thouii^ht    I    could    do   this 


23 

In  no  way  so  well  as  by  providlni^  for  the 
higher  education,  especially  for  the  training  of 
its  ministers.' 

''On  expressing  to  him  my  appreciation  of  the 
objects  and  motives  of  his  gifts,  he  then  added  : 
'  I  only  wish  I  had  begun  earlier  this  distri- 
bution of  my  wealth.  It  would  have  been 
easier,  and  I  should  have  enjoyed  more,  what  I 
have  lately  learned  to  enjoy,   in  giving.' 

*'  Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  a  class 
of  philanthropists  like  Abbot  Lawrence,  George 
Peabody,  James  Lenox,  Robert  L.  Stuart,  Wil- 
liam E.  Dodge,  and  Governor  Morgan,  most 
of  them  merchants,  most  of  them  trained  under 
conditions  of  business  education,  which  tended 
to  develop  nobly  such  character  in  those  who 
accepted  its  conditions.  They  gave  their  wealth 
for  the  public  good  in  various  ways,  some  by 
diffusion,  others  by  concentration  on  great  ob- 
jects— recognizing  the  appeal  which  a  great  city 
makes  on  men  of  wealth  for  large  and  fruitful 
charitable  endowments.  And  I  think  I  should 
be  faithless  to  my  trust  to-day,  if  addressing,  as 
I   do,   some  who  have   by  God's  bounty  acquired 


24 

In  this  city  great  fortunes,  I  did  not  express  a 
growing  public  sentiment.  It  is  no  clamorous 
beggar  with  open  palm  demanding  gifts.  It  is 
no  presumptuous  dictator,  prescribing  how  men 
shall  act  with  their  own.  But  it  Is — deeply  and 
feelingly  it  is  —  the  grateful  recognition  of  all 
such  charitable  efforts — the  honored  remem- 
brance of  it — and  Its  voice  Is,  '  Go  ye  also  and 
do  likeiuise'  Care  for  the  poverty,  the  sin,  the 
suffering  in  this  great  city.  Rear  Institutions 
for  the  relief  of  all  human  woe.  Help  those 
that  need  more  liberal  equipment  and  support. 
Beautify  the  city  by  art  In  public  places  If  you 
will  —  but  do  not  go  from  the  world  till  you 
have  consecrated  some  part  of  your  wealth  In 
the  service  of  Christian  philanthropy  in  this 
metropolis." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hitchcock  delivered  the  follow- 
ing address  : 

''  It  was  the  custom  of  an  ancient  Thraclan 
tribe,  as  reported  by  Herodotus,  to  sit  and 
weep  when  a  child  was  born,  but  to  laugh  and 
rejoice    when    a   man    was    buried.      To    them,    as 


25 

to  us,  the  life  just  begun  was  an  impending- 
battle,  whose  issue  was  uncertain  ;  while  the  life 
just  ended  was  a  battle  won.  We  have  no 
fears  to-day  for  a  battle  impending,  but  only 
gratitude  and  rejoicing  for  the  battle  won. 
Even  when,  so  recently,  our  honored  friend  for 
the  last  time  climbed  the  stairway  to  his  office, 
there  still  was  something  remaining  of  the 
unsolved  problem.  The  books  were  not  yet 
closed.  Character  was  not  yet  quite  sealed  and 
stamped  ;  the  last  act  was  not  yet  performed, 
nor  the  last  word  spoken.  Now  all  is  finished, 
and  all,  thank  God  !  is  safe.  Another  man  has 
died  ;  another  form  lies  motionless  before  us. 
And  a  triple  life  is  ended.  We  have  lost  a 
merchant,   a  statesman,   and  a  philanthropist. 

''  The  great  mystery  of  character  and  achieve- 
ment will  never  cease.  Men  are  cradled  to- 
gether in  the  same  village  by  the  seaside,  or 
among  the  hills  ;  attend  the  same  schools  and 
churches  ;  have  apparently  the  same  opportuni- 
ties ;  but  come  out  at  last  as  wide  apart  as 
poverty  and  wealth,  obscurity  and  fame.  Just 
what    makes    the    difference — exactly    what    the 


26 

vital,  impelling,  decisive  force  in  superlative 
achievement  may  be — no  analysis  altogether  ex- 
plains. Exceptional  clearness  of  vision  certainly 
there  must  have  been,  with  manifest  sincrleness 
of  purpose  ;  but  above  all,  perhaps,  a  straight 
onward,  determined,  crushing  power  of  will, 
which,  when  the  crisis  came,  brooked  no  con- 
tradiction and  feared  no  odds.  After  all,  great- 
ness is  only  another  name  for  pre-eminent 
success ;  so  that  greatness  can  never  be  meas- 
ured exactly  till  its  work  is  done. 

''  No  one  ever  came  fairly  in  contact  with 
Governor  Morgan  on  a  grave  occasion  without 
getting  the  impression  of  a  ponderous  and  pow- 
erful personality.  The  massive  form  evidently 
incarnated  a  massive,  character.  His  early  school 
advantages  were  scant.  One  term  in  Bacon 
Academy,  in  Colchester,  Conn.,  in  1826,  was  all 
the  higher  training  he  received.  He  never  tried 
to  be  an  orator.  But  he  instinctively  saw 
things  as  they  were  in  themselves,  in  their  re- 
lations to  one  another,  and  above  all,  in  their 
relation  to  the  higher  laws.  He  could  wait  for 
others  to   be   heard.      But   no   sophistry   deceived 


27 

him,  and  when  It  became  his  turn  to  speak,  his 
words  rang  Hke  blows  upon  an  anvil.  Scarcely 
another  prominent  man  of  our  time  has  made 
so  few  mistakes.  In  every  relation  he  used  his 
faculties  in  a  large,  grand  way.  As  I  have 
heard  it  remarked  by  one  w^ho  has  known  him 
well,  '  He  never  did  a  small  thing.'  And  he 
never  did  a  rash  or  foolish  thing.  Boldness 
there  often  was,  but  always  boldness  with  pru- 
dence. He  never  sailed  into  any  harbor  with- 
out taking  the  soundings  as  he  went  along  ; 
never  went  into  battle  without  reserves. 

''  The  blood  was  Celtic.  Morgan  is  Welsh, 
and  means  'sea-born.'  The  Greeks  in  the  fifth 
century  made  it  Pelagius.  The  first  ancestor  of 
the  family  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  was 
James  Morgan,  who  was  born  probably  at 
Llandaff,  in  Wales,  in  1607,  went  to  Boston 
with  two  younger  brothers  in  1636,  in  1650 
removed  to  Pequot  (now  New  London),  in 
Connecticut,  and  seven  years  later  removed 
again  to  Groton,  where  he  died  in  1685. 
Edwin  Denison  Morgan  was  in  the  eighth  gen- 
eration of  this  descent. 


28 

**  Eight  days  ago  our  friend  was  just  seventy- 
two  years  of  age  ;  and  had  he  Hved  but  a  few 
months  longer,  would  have  celebrated  the 
golden  anniversary  of  a  singularly  happy  mar- 
riage. The  faithful  companion  of  the  long  pil- 
grimage finds  herself  suddenly  alone.  Of  fivG 
children,  four  died  in  infancy,  and  the  eldest 
not  long  ago,  leaving  only  one  grandchild  to 
alleviate  the  bitter,  blinding,  solitary  grief.  It 
is  when  we  thus  stand  where  river  and  ocean 
meet  that  our  thoughts  fly  back  most  swiftly 
to  the  fountain  from  which  the  river  starts. 
On  the  8th  day  of  February,  iSii,  Edwin 
Denlson  Morgan  first  drew  breath,  in  Massachu- 
setts, among  the  Berkshire  Hills.  Washington 
Is  the  name  of  the  township.  That  little 
hamlet,  of  considerably  less  than  a  thousand 
souls,  will  be  known  hereafter  as  the  place 
where  he  was  born.  Connecticut  was,  however, 
the  proper  home  of  the  family,  and  thither  the 
parents  of  Edwin  soon  returned. 

''  His  merchant  life  began  at  Hartford  In  1828, 
when  he  was  only  seventeen  years  old,  and  a 
clerk.      In    1831    he    was    a    partner    in    the    con- 


29 

cern,  and  in  1836  he  came  to  New  York.  Both 
In  Hartford  and  here  he  went  stralcrht  to  the 
front.  His  ventures  were  bold  and  large,  and 
everything  he  put  his  hand  to  was  a  success. 
His  great  fortune  was  of  no  mere  good  luck, 
but  of  quick,  far-sighted  sagacity,  backed  by  a 
force  and  steadiness  of  purpose  that  never  fal- 
tered. He  built  his  great  fortune  stone  by 
stone,   as  Cheops  built  his   Pyramid. 

"In  statesmanship  his  opportunities  were  sin- 
gularly happy,  such  as  rarely  happen  anywhere, 
and  may  not  happen  on  this  continent  again 
for  generations.  In  any  case,  under  ordinary 
conditions,  he  would  have  been  no  doubt  a 
model  governor  of  the  State  of  his  adoption. 
But  his  two  terms  of  service  were  in  a  stormy 
time.  For  two  years  he  saw  the  tempest 
gathering.  For  two  years  more  he  faced  it. 
Of  the  governors  of  the  loyal  States,  three 
men  became  pre-eminently  historic.  These  three 
men  were  Governor  Andrew  of  Massachusetts, 
Governor  Morgan  of  New  York,  and  Governor 
Morton  of  Indiana.  The  name  of  Edwin  Deni- 
son     Morgan    is    beyond    the    reach    of    shifting 


30 

events  and  parties  and  policies.  His  solid 
monument  Is  built.  On  It  is  Inscribed  '  The 
Great  War  Governor  of  the  Empire  State.' 
From  1863  to  1869  he  represented  New  York 
In  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  Twice  he 
was  offered  the  Secretaryship  of  the  Treasury, 
once  by  the  martyred  President,  who  had  so 
leaned  upon  his  judgment  and  courage  In  the 
stormy  days  ;  and  again  by  him  who  dignifies 
this  occasion  by  his  courtly  presence,  and 
whom  all  our  hearts  and  all  our  voices  now 
salute  with  benediction  as  the  bosom  friend  of 
the  man  we  love  and  mourn. 

"  It  remains  to  speak  briefly  of  his  philan- 
thropy. Those  who  met  him  only  In  public 
places,  may  have  thought  him  reserved  and 
cold.  But  he  had  a  great  heart.  Some  eight 
or  ten  days  ago,  as  he  was  looking  at  the  por- 
trait of  his  daughter-in-law,  whom  he  loved  most 
tenderly,  he  said,  '  I  would  give  a  million  of 
dollars  to  have  that  dear  child  back  again  :  and 
I  would  keep  her  only  one  day.'  He  was 
instinctively  luunanc^  llie  welfare  of  common 
people   was   very  precious   to   him.       If   he   never 


31 

flattered,  he  surely  never  forgot,  the  masses. 
His  sense  of  right  was  simply  imperial.  Poli- 
ticians tried  again  and  again  to  bend  him  to 
their  purposes,  reminded  him  of  his  obligations 
to  them  for  office  and  honor,  and  threatened 
him  with  their  displeasure  and  hostility.  But 
never  to  any  purpose.  His  sturdy  Puritan  con- 
science stood  out  against  them  like  a  granite 
cliff.  Merchant  as  he  was,  he  indignantly  re- 
fused to  make  money  out  of  the  war.  One  day 
at  his  own  table,  to  his  wife  he  said,  holding 
up  a  bit  of  bread,  '  Not  the  worth  of  this  will 
I   make    out    of    this    war.' 

**  But  he  was  more  than  a  man  of  conscience; 
he  was  a  devout,  consistent  Christian  believer 
and  communicant.  And  as  he  drew  near  the 
end  of  his  busy  and  eventful  career,  his  heart 
opened  itself  more  and  more  to  Christian  feel- 
ing. Christian  purpose  and  Christian  work.  Re- 
membering his  birthplace  among  the  Berkshire 
hills,  he  built  for  the  Berkshire  College  the 
splendid  dormitory  that  is  to  bear  down  his 
name  to  the  remotest  generations.  Recognizing 
in  this    commercial    metropolis  of    the  nation  the 


32 

fittest  place  for  professional  training  of  every 
kind,  confessing  his  obligation  to  bestow  a  part 
of  his  fortune  where  all  of  it  had  been  accu- 
mulated, and  with  a  profound  and  lively  interest 
in  the  advancement  of  Christian  life  and  litrht 
and  love  over  all  the  earth,  he  has  made  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary  in  a  very  special 
manner  a  monument  to  his  memory.  And  I 
have  obtained  leave  to  report  a  more  private 
charity.  Not  long  ago  he  ascertained  the 
names  and  residences  of  all  his  surviving 
nephews  and  nieces  (thirty-three  in  all)  from 
Massachusetts  to  Texas  and  Oregon,  and  gave 
them  hvQ  thousand  dollars  each. 

''  And  so  this  triple  life  is  ended :  Merchant, 
Statesman,  Philanthropist,  thy  work  is  finished 
and    thy    reward    begun." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Hall  then  offered  prayer  as 
follows  : 

''Almighty  God,  our  Heavenly  Father,  we 
have  been  giving  heed  to  the  words  spoken  unto 
us  by  Thy  servants.  Impress  them  upon  our 
hearts,    and    make    us   faithful    followers    of    them 


33 

who  through  faith  and  patience  now  inherit  the 
promises.  Now  we  come  to  Thee.  We  worship 
Thee,  the  author  of  hfe,  the  Supreme  and 
Sovereign  Lord.  We  worship  Thee  in  Him  in 
whom  Thou  dost  reveal  Thyself,  our  Advocate 
and  Saviour.  We  ask  the  teaching  and  the 
help  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  the  Comforter. 
Taught  by  Him,  we  would  be  in  subjection  of 
spirit  unto  Thee.  The  gift  Thou  didst  give 
Thou  hast  the  right  to  take  back.  .  Thou  gavest ; 
Thou  hast  taken  away  ;    blessed  be  Thy  name. 

''  Our  Divine  Father,  we  wait  at  Thy  throne, 
that  we  may  be  taught  by  Thee.  Show  us  how 
frail  we  are.  The  place  that  knows  us  now  will 
soon  know  us  no  more.  But  we  thank  Thee 
for  the  hope  of  life  eternal  with  Thee.  We 
praise  Thee  that  our  being  is  redeemed  from 
its  transiency  and  its  littleness  by  that  which 
Thy  grace  has  provided  and  revealed,  that 
eternity  of  service  and  of  happiness  with  Thy- 
self which  Thou  hast  set  before  us.  Help  us 
so  to  bear  ourselves  here  —  so  to  consecrate 
talents  and  time  to  Thy  service  —  that  there 
shall    be    true    unity    between    this    life    and    the 


34 

next ;  that  living  and  dying,  we  may  be  Thine. 
Lead  us  in  the  steps  of  Thy  Son,  in  whom  we 
trust.  Make  our  natures  temples  of  the  Divine 
Comforter,  and  set  upon  us  on  the  earth  the 
seal  of  a  holy  character,  so  making  us  meet  for 
the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light.  Let  Thy 
solemn  and  righteous  deeds,  in  the  removal  of 
those  whom  we  have  known  and  loved,  bring 
us  more  under  the  power  of  the  world  to  come. 
Make  Him,  whom  Thou  lovest,  Thy  Son  our 
Redeemer,  more  precious  to  us,  and  let  His 
person  be  so  real  and  so  great  to  us,  that  we 
shall  ever  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  His  glory. 
So  let  power  and  grace  from  Him  sustain  and 
consecrate  us,  and  let  us  be  with  Him,  and 
with  the  general  assembly  of  the  first-born, 
whose  names  are  written  in  heaven,  forever  and 
ever.  All  this,  and  whatever  else  we  need, 
though  we  ask  it  not  in  words,  grant  Thou 
unto  us,  O  merciful  Father,  for  our  Saviour's 
sake. 

''And  now,  O  living  and  gracious  Father,  we 
give  Thee  thanks  for  Thy  goodness  in  the  life 
that    has    closed.      We    thank    Thee    that    it    has 


35 

been  stainless.  We  praise  Thee  for  usefulness 
given,  for  good  influence  wielded,  for  service 
rendered,  through  Thy  grace,  to  the  city,  to 
the  State,  and  to  the  nation.  We  thank  Thee 
for  his  knowledge  of  the  truth,  for  his  sub- 
mission to  it,  for  the  guidance  it  afforded  him 
in  life  and  the  comfort  in  death.  And  now  we 
make  our  united  prayer  to  Thee  on  behalf  of 
her  whose  life  has  for  so  long  been  bound  up 
with  his.  When  the  tender  fellowship  of  all 
these  years  is  hers  no  more,  give  to  her.  Thou 
God  of  grace,  communion  with  Thyself  and 
with  Thy  Son.  So  let  her  be  helped,  upheld, 
and  comforted.  Even  so  we  commend  to  Thee 
him  who  bears  Thy  servant's  name,  that  he 
may  be  guided  from  above,  and  led  in  the  way 
of  peace  in  Thy  noble  and  exalted  service. 
Grant  heavenly  consolation  to  all  here  and  else- 
where who  are  afflicted  by  this  removal.  Speak 
through  It  to  men  busily  engaged  In  life's 
duties.  Let  Thy  blessing  come  upon  all  In  au- 
thority, the  President  of  the  United  States,  and 
all  who  are  intrusted  with  the  management  of 
ereat    common    interests,    that    truth    and    honor, 


36 

Integrity  and  purity,  may  mark  them,  and  that 
so  favor  and  blessing  may  come  to  all  the 
people. 

"  Be  pleased,  Almighty  God,  to  keep  those 
who  shall  carry  these  mortal  remains  to  their 
last  resting  place  with  the  loved  ones  who  have 
gone  before ;  and  help  them,  as  they  look  Into 
the  open  grave,  to  remember  Him  who  is  the 
Resurrection  and  the  Life,  who  will  come 
again,  bringing  His  saints  with  Him.  Almighty 
Father,  we  offer  these,  our  petitions,  and  our 
Intercessions,  In  the  name  of  our  great  High 
Priest,  who  hath  passed  Into  the  heavens.  In 
whom  we  trust,  to  whom  we  look  for  victory 
over  death,  and  for  perfected  character  and 
eternal  felicity  In  the  life  above  ;  and  to 
whom,  with  Thyself  and  the  Divine  Spirit,  one 
Jehovah,  be  all  praise  and  glory  for  evermore. 
Amen." 


Zl 


HYMN, 


Abide  with    me  I       Fast    falls  the    eventide  ; 
The   darkness   deepens ;    Lord,    with    me   abide  ! 
When   other   helpers   fail,    and    comforts   flee. 
Help   of  the   helpless,    O,    abide   with    me  ! 

Swift   to  its   close   ebbs   out   life's   little   day ; 
Earth's  joys   grow   dim  ;    its   glories   pass   away ; 
Change   and   decay   in   all   around    I    see ; 
O    Thou   who   changest   not,    abide   with    me  ! 

Hold    Thou    Thy    cross   before    my    closing    eyes, 
Shine   through    the   gloom  and    point    me    to   the    skies ; 
Heaven's    morning   breaks,    and    earth's    vain    shadows    flee 
In   life,   in   death,    O    Lord,    abide   with    me ! 


BENEDICTION. 


The  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, keep  your  hearts  and  minds,  through 
Christ  Jesus;  and  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty, 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  be  amongst  you 
and  remain  with  you,  now  and  forevermore. 
Amen. 


38 

The  remains  of  ex-Governor  Morgan  rested 
all  night  in  the  church,  watched  by  some  of  his 
faithful  and  attached  servants  and  attendants. 

On  Saturday,  a  special  train  conveyed  the 
family  and  many  of  the  immediate  friends,  with 
the  remains  of  the  departed,  to  Hartford,  Con- 
necticut. The  services  at  the  family  vault  were 
very  simple.  The  Rev.  Dr.  W.  F.  Morgan,  of 
New  York,  read  the  solemn  words  of  committal 
to  the  dust,  and  the  Rev.  Henry  J.  van  Dyke, 
Jr.,  offered  the  prayer  and  pronounced  the 
benediction.  As  the  last  words  were  spoken, 
the  sun,  which  had  been  hidden  all  the  morn- 
ing by  a  heavy  mist,  shone  out  clear  and 
bright,  and  the  rays  of  light  fell  like  a  bless- 
ing from  above  upon  the  little  company  of 
mourners.  Thus,  under  mingled  clouds  of  sorrow 
and  sunshine  of  hope,  all  that  was  mortal  of 
Edwin  Denison  Morgan  was  committed  to  the 
grave,  in  the  sure  and  blessed  expectation  of 
a   glorious    resurrection. 


;;Wenioiial  Sermon. 


DEATH,     THE   END    AND     THE 
BEGINNING. 


A  MEMORIAL  SERMON  FOR  EDWIN  D.  MORGAN,  PREACHED  BY 
REV.  HENRY  J.  VAN  DYKE,  JR.,  AT  THE  BRICK  CHURCH 
FEBRUARY    1 8,    1 883. 


"  I  must  Work  the  works  of  Him  that  sent  me,  while  it  is  day ; 
the  night  cometh,  when   no  man  can  work."     St.  John  ix.  4 
"  And   there   shall   be   no   night   there."      Rev.  xxii.  5. 

These  two  verses  reveal  the  Inmost  meaning 
of  the  great  mystery  of  death.  It  has  a  double 
aspect.  Seen  from  the  earthly  side,  It  Is  the 
termination  of  mortal  existence  and  activity, 
the  certain  end  which  must  come  to  every 
life,  the  silent  shadow  Into  which  each  one 
of  us,  and  all  whom  we  know,  amd  all  who 
see  the  sun,  must  some  day  pass  and  disap- 
pear. Seen  from  the  heavenly  side,  It  Is  the 
entrance  of  the  Immortal  and  redeemed  spirit 
Into    a    world    of    pure,     unclouded,     and    eternal 


42 

light.  Both  of  these  views  are  true,  and  on 
both  of  them  our  minds  should  dwell  with 
reverence  at  a  time  like  this.  A  life  that  we 
have  known  and  touched,  a  strong,  and  noble, 
and  precious  life,  has  just  been  closed,  has 
vanished  from  our  vision  in  the  darkness. 
The  door  of  the  sepulchre  is  shut,  and  now, 
with  calm  and  reverent  minds,  let  us  ponder 
the  significance  of  death  ;  let  us  understand  its 
meaning  both  for  this  world  and  for  that 
which    is    to    come. 

As  we  look  at  death  from  the  earthly  side, 
how  wondrous  and  how  beautiful  are  these 
words  of  Christ !  He,  the  Lord  of  light  and 
life,  who  dwelt  from  all  eternity  in  the  Father's 
bosom,  has  humbled  Himself  to  our  mortality. 
He  stands  beside  us  in  this  land  of  shadows, 
and  looking  forward  with  human  eyes  to  the 
inevitable  darkness  of  death,  tells  us  its  mean- 
ing   and    its    lesson. 

Every  day  on  earth  ends  in  night.  The 
sun  riding  in  strength  and  glory  through  the 
heavens,  sinks  at  his  appointed  hour  to  the 
western    horizon.      The    shadows   lengthen.     The 


43 

light  fades.  Darkness  settles  like  a  pall  upon 
the  world.  The  busy  hands  are  folded  ;  the 
active  feet  are  still  ;  the  day's  work  is  done ; 
now  come  silence  and  rest.  So  every  human 
life  ends  in  a  deeper  shadow,  in  a  more  pro- 
found stillness — the  shadow  and  stillness  of 
the  grave.  When  we  enter  there  the  eyes 
are  closed,  the  tongue  is  hushed,  the  brain 
sleeps,  the  hand  is  powerless.  All  our  oppor- 
tunities are  ended,  all  our  labors  are  laid 
aside,  all  our  possessions  are  given  up  ;  for 
the  day  is  over,  and  the  night  is  come  when 
no    man    can    work. 

What  shall  we  think  of  this?  What  in- 
fluence shall  it  have  upon  our  lives  ?  What 
shall  we  do  with  this  great,  solemn  truth  ?  Shall 
we  shrink  from  it  with  horror,  putting  it 
away  from  us,  shutting  our  eyes  to  it,  for- 
getting it,  and  living  as  though  for  us  it  had 
no  reality?  Nay,  surely  this  is  folly  and  sin. 
For  a  mortal  man  to  live  in  this  world  as 
though  he  could  remain  in  it  forever, — as 
though  his  powers  were  inexhaustible,  his 
opportunities     endless,      his     days     unnumbered. 


44 

and  secure, — this  Is  the  conduct  of  a  madman. 
And  yet  how  many  there  are,  In  all  other  re- 
spects sane  and  wise,  who  live  thus  and  die 
thus  !  These  are  the  wasted  lives,  fruitless  and 
Incomplete,  for  whom  the  fittest  monument  Is 
the  broken  column,  sad  emblem  of  failure  and 
loss. 

But  must  we  then  keep  this  thought  of 
death,  the  end  of  all  things,  ever  before  us 
as  a  stern  and  dreadful  presence  ?  Must  It 
ever  dwell  upon  us  like  a  shadow  of  coming 
gloom,  turning  all  our  mirth  Into  bitterness, 
and  making  all  our  labor  vain  and  heartless  ? 
Not  so,  salth  the  Lord.  But  as  a  strong  and 
earnest  man,  rising  with  the  day  to  his  duties 
and  his  tolls,  counts  Its  hours  with  joy,  say- 
ing, ''Thus  and  thus  will  I  do,  with  God's 
help,  before  the  night  cometh  and  I  sleep,"  so 
the  wise  soul  looks  forward  gladly  to  Its  op- 
portunities, gives  Itself  eagerly  to  Its  labors, 
steadied,  strengthened,  and  stimulated  by  the 
desire  to  accomplish  the  most  that  can  be  done 
before    the    sun    sets. 

*'  I    must    work    the    works    of   Him   that    sent 


45 

me,  while  It  Is  day."  Who  does  not  feel  the 
vigor  and  courage  of  these  words  ?  Life  Is 
given  us  for  activity.  Not  for  selfish  pleasure, 
not  for  Idle  dreaming,  has  God  sent  us  Into 
the  world.  The  man  who  suffers  his  powers 
of  mind  or  body  to  rust  unused,  who  spends 
his  days  In  careless  sloth  or  passive  enjoyment, 
squanders    God's    priceless    gift. 

"  His  hand, 
Like   the   base    Indian,   throws   a   pearl   away 
Richer  than   all   his   tribe." 

Man  Is  born,  and  dowered  with  strength 
and  reason,  and  sent  forth  Into  this  world  of 
labor  and  struggle.  In  order  that  he  may  do 
something,  —  accomplish  some  work,  perform 
some  task.  To  find  this  and  to  fulfil  It,  to 
do  It  thoroughly  and  well,  to  take  delight  both 
In  the  doing  and  the  result, — this  Is  the  true 
purpose  and  the  highest  happiness  of  human 
life.  And  this  Is  possible  only  to  him  who 
realizes  that  he  has  but  a  single  life,  and 
therefore  rouses  all  his  energies  and  bends  all 
his   powers  to  that  which  Is  before  him.      Work, 


46 

which  may  have  been  the  primal  curse,  is  now 
the  blessing,  the  refuge,  the  joy  of  man,  for 
it  is  only  in  earnest  and  vigorous  work  that 
his  soul  and  body  find  health  and  peace. 
Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with 
thy  might,  for  there  is  no  work  nor  device  in 
the    grave,    whither    thou    goest. 

But,  surely,  he  who  feels  this  will  feel  also 
that  his  life  is  given  to  him  for  beneficent 
work.  Since  we  can  live  but  once,  since  all 
possibility  of  our  doing  good  work  in  the 
world,  so  far  as  we  can  see,  is  bounded  by 
the  grave,  we  ought  to  strive  instantly  to 
spend  our  days  and  our  powers  in  the  highest 
service  and  for  the  noblest  ends.  To  do  God's 
will  on  earth,  to  join  ourselves  to  Him  in 
desire  and  endeavor,  so  that  from  the  primal 
source  of  good,  blessings  shall  flow  out  through 
us  to  our  fellow  men,  this  is  what  we  should 
long  for  as  our  best  success.  Wealth  is  good, 
if  we  can  use  it  for  the  comfort  and  help  of 
others.  Power  is  good,  if  we  can  direct  it  to 
the  defence  of  truth  and  right,  the  protection 
of    th(^    innocent,    the    j)unishment    of    the   guilty. 


47 

Life  is  good,  if  we  can  make  the  world  purer 
and  happier  for  having  Hved  in  it.  But 
without  this,  what  is  it  all  worth?  Is  there 
anything  to  rest  upon,  is  there  anything  to 
satisfy  the  soul  when  the  day  is  done  and 
the  night  falls,  is  there  anything  to  give 
peace  and  gladness,  except  the  memory  of 
doing  good  ?  Ah  !  believe  me,  when  from  that 
shadowy  portal  the  departing  spirit  turns  to 
look  back  upon  the  landscape  of  the  past, — one 
last  look  before  it  fades  forever, — all  will  be 
darkness,  save  those  places  where  a  gentle 
deed,  a  kind  word,  a  generous  gift,  an  un- 
selfish service  to  God  or  man,  still  shine  star- 
like   with    the    light    of    heaven. 

But  how  can  we  rightly  use  this  brief  and 
fleeting  day  of  our  life,  how  can  we  enter  upon 
its  labors  in  the  true  spirit,  how  can  we  accom- 
plish any  real  and  lasting  good  in  it,  unless 
we  first  of  all  use  it  as  our  only  opportunity  of 
knowing  God  as  our  Father,  and  entering  into 
true  and  vital  union  with  Him?  This,  after 
all,  is  the  most  important  thing  for  every  soul, 
and    it    is    in    this    connection    that    the    thouorht 


48 

of  death  as  the  approaching  night,  becomes 
most  solemn.  Here,  In  our  earthly  day,  the 
light  of  God's  pardoning  love  shines  in  the 
face  of  Jesus  Christ.  Receive  it  now,  I  beseech 
you.  Into  your  hearts,  for  In  the  grave  all  Is 
darkness.  Where  shall  you  find  light  If  you 
shut  this  out  ?  What  hope  have  you  if  you 
despise  this  ?  Here,  In  our  earthly  day, 
the  voice  of  the  Son  of  God  comes  to  us, 
pleading  with  us  to  accept,  and  confess,  and 
serve  Him.  In  the  silence  of  the  erave  there 
is  no  gracious  invitation,  there  Is  no  confession, 
there  is  no  service.  Oh  !  to-day,  if  ye  will  hear 
His  voice,  be  reconciled  to  God  through  Jesus 
Christ,  enter  His  service,  spend  the  rest  of 
your  life  In  His  work,  and  then  when  the 
night  comes  it  will  find  you  ready  to  sleep  in 
Him. 

A  true  and  noble  life,  strong,  high,  com- 
plete. Is  only  possible  to  him  who  learns  this 
lesson  of  Christ,  and,  looking  forward  to  the 
night  which  must  surely  come,  spends  his  day 
earnestly  and  bravely  in  the  service  of  God 
and    of    man.       Such    a    life    was    that   of    I^dwin 


49 

D.  Morgan.  He  lived  as  a  man  who  knew  that 
he  could  live  but  once,  with  his  peace  made 
with  God,  with  his  heart  set  on  doing  good 
work,  and  with  all  his  energies  quickened  and 
bent  on  the  accomplishment  of  that  which  was 
before  him.  Let  me  make  mention  of  his  life 
here  with  unfeigned  honor,  endeavoring  not  so 
much  to  record  its  outward  circumstances  and 
its  temporal  successes,  as  to  grasp  the  inmost 
and  enduring  significance  of  that  which  by 
God's  grace  he  was  enabled  to  be  and  to  do. 
And  may  this  imperfect  but  affectionate  memo- 
rial of  his  character  as  a  man  and  a  Christian, 
be  to  every  one  of  us  a  help,  a  stimulus,  and 
an  encouragement  to  vigorous  effort  and  high 
achievement. 

I.  He  was  a  strong  man.  His  natural  gifts 
were  far  greater  and  more  valuable  than  those 
often  overpraised  qualities  of  subtle  wit  and 
sounding  eloquence  ;  they  were  the  endowments 
of  one  who  is  fitted  to  be  a  leader  and  a 
governor  among  men.  He  was  a  son  of  the 
hills,  and  he  had  in  his  personality  something 
of    their    solidity,   and    grandeur,    and    endurance. 


50 

His  noble  presence  of  body  was  not  a  mere 
mask  to  conceal  the  absence  of  mind,  it  was 
the  true  Image  of  the  man  himself.  His  large, 
physical  strength  was  dominated  by  a  yet  greater 
strength  of  spirit.  With  a  clear,  sane  Intellect, 
a  well  balanced  judgment,  a  vigorous  and  In- 
domitable will,  he  entered  forcefully  Into  the 
activities  of  life,  and  made  his  presence  and 
his  Influence  felt.  He  did  not  waste  himself  in 
idleness  or  self  indulgence.  He  made  the  most 
of  his  powers  and  his  opportunities.  Life  to 
him  was  real  and  earnest ;  and  he  lived  It  with 
purpose  and  vigor,  as  one  who  knows  that  the 
day    Is    short. 

As  a  clerk  In  the  employment  of  his  uncle, 
as  a  young  man  working  his  way  upwards,  as 
an  active  merchant  In  this  great  city,  as  a  lead- 
ing citizen  of  the  metropolis,  intrusted  with 
large  interests  and  called  to  works  of  public 
policy  and  beneficence,  as  a  law  maker,  and 
then  as  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  this  common- 
wealth, as  a  Senator  of  the  Republic, — In  every 
position,  from  the  humblest  to  the  highest,  in 
every    duty   (for    all    were    to    him    alike    honor- 


51 

able),  In  every  responsibility  and  in  every  labor, 
he  was  diligent  in  business,  doing  what  his 
hand  found  to  do  with  his  might,  and  thus 
reaping    the    reward    of    true    success. 

This  is  not  the  character  which  dazzles  and 
astounds  the  populace  for  a  moment,  as  it 
sweeps  with  unsteady  glare  across  the  sky ;  it 
is  rather  that  which  shines  with  a  fixed  and 
growing  light.  It  is  a  character  of  the  same 
clear,  and  sane,  and  lofty  type  as  that  of  him 
whose  name  stands  first  upon  our  country's  roll 
of  honor.  Such  a  character  and  such  works 
are  possible  only  to  those  who  feel  the  earnest- 
ness and  the  brevity  of  life,  and  throw  them- 
selves into  it  with  vigorous  and  untiring  re- 
solve   to    make    the    best    of    it. 

2.  Come  a  step  higher  in  this  character  which 
we  are  recalling.  Gova^nor  Morgan  was  an 
honest  man.  His  life  was  not  built  on  shift- 
ing sands,  or  on  the  dark  and  loathsome 
morass.  It  was  founded  on  the  rock  of 
Righteousness.  He  had  convictions,  and  he 
was  not  ashamed  of  them.  He  had  prin- 
ciples,    and     he     endeavored     faithfully    to     live 


52 

by  them.  Of  his  commercial  Integrity  others 
may  and  will  speak.  But  I  would  pay  the 
tribute  of  veneration  here  to  a  man  who 
went  Into  politics  and  came  out  with  clean 
hands.  He  honored  his  office  more  than  his 
office  honored  him.  He  did  not  think  that  to 
make  laws  for  men  absolves  one  from  the  ob- 
ligation to  obey  the  laws  of  God.  He  did  not 
think  that  a  State  can  honorably  do  a  dis- 
honorable thlncr.  He  reckoned  that  the  credit 
of  this  commonwealth,  and  of  Its  citizens,  was 
no  whit  less  precious  than  the  preservation  of 
the  Union.  And  In  all  his  strenuous  and  suc- 
cessful efforts  for  that  end,  he  ever  strove  to 
reach  It  by  the  path  of  rectitude  and  justice. 
The  Immediate  jewel  of  his  soul  he  did  not 
barter  for  place  or  gold,  he  did  not  lose  In 
the  dust  of  the  arena,  but  brought  it  back  with 
him,  unbroken  and  untarnished,  to  be  the  orna- 
ment of  his  old  age,  and  the  priceless  heritage 
of  his  descendants.  How  noble  Is  the  record 
of  such  integrity !  As  I  speak  of  It,  I  recall 
the  words  of  Samuel,  the  Governor  of  Israel, 
when,    in    the    fulness    of    his    years,    after    long 


53 

and    faithful    service,   he  laid   aside    the   robes    of 
office.      Standing  before  all  the  people,   he    said  : 

''  '  Behold,  here  I  am  !  Witness  against  me 
before  the  Lord  and  before  His  anointed. 
Whose  ox  have  I  taken  ?  or  whose  ass  have 
I  taken  ?  or  whom  have  I  defrauded  ?  whom 
have  I  oppressed  ?  of  whose  hand  have  I  re- 
ceived any  bribe  to  blind  mine  eyes  therewith  ? 
and  I  will  restore  it  to  you  ? '  And  all  the 
people  said  :  '  Thou  hast  not  defrauded  us  nor 
oppressed  us,  neither  hast  thou  taken  ought  of 
any    man's    hand.'      God    is  witness." 

Grand  words  !  worthy  to  be  written  upon  the 
finished  column  of  the  life  which  we  commemo- 
rate. Happy  the  State  which  has  such  men 
among  her  chosen  rulers ;  and  well  deserved 
the  honor  which  she  still  pays  to  his  upright 
memory. 

3.  But  he  was  more  than  upright  ;  /le  luas 
a  good  man.  The  natural  kindness  of  his  heart 
was  deepened  and  enlarged  by  the  Spirit  of 
God,  and  flowed  out  in  generous  benefactions 
and  large  services  to  his  fellow  men.  Ad- 
vancing   years    did    not    harden    and    close    his 


54 

heart,  but  rather  opened  it  the  wider  and  made 
it  the  more  tender,  as  he  felt  that  the  time 
was  short.  Often  has  he  spoken  to  me,  in 
these  last  months,  of  his  desire  to  spend  the 
rest    of    his    life    in    doing    good. 

The  record  of  his  public  gifts  is  written 
where  you  may  read  it.  But  the  record  of 
his  private  charity  is  written  in  secret,  in  many 
a  home  of  want,  which  he  has  relieved,  in 
many  a  grateful  heart,  which  cherishes  the 
memory  of  his  aid  in  the  dark  hour  of  necessity. 

And  shall  I  be  silent  here  in  regard  to  that 
inmost  side  of  his  nature  which  was  necessarily 
known  only  to  those  who  stood  nearest  to  him, 
and  felt  the  warmth  of  his  great  heart?  Nay, 
for  if  there  be  any  place  in  which  we  may, 
with  propriety,  speak  of  this,  it  is  here,  in  this 
house  which  is  devoted  to  the  worship  of  that 
God  whose  dearest  name  is  Father,  whose  per- 
fect revelation  is  given  to  us  in  the  person  of 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Elder  Brother,  and  whose 
religion  finds  its  highest  fruit  in  the  faithful 
discharge  of  the  sacred  offices  of  human  love 
and    friendship. 


55 

Here,  then,  we  record  the  testimony  of  his 
companions  and  associates  In  business,  who  bear 
witness  to  forty  years  of  unbroken  Intercourse 
In  kindness  and  fideHty.  Here  we  speak  for 
those  who  knew  and  loved  him  as  a  true, 
and  warm,  and  loyal  friend.  Here,  above  all, 
we  speak  for  her  who  was  the  nearest  and 
the  dearest,  his  true  helpmate ;  we  lay  the 
crown  of  honor,  which  Christ  himself  has 
blessed,  on  half  a  century  of  wedded  love. 
The  fiftieth  anniversary  to  which  that  faithful 
heart  looked  forward  Is  Indeed  deferred  ;  but 
every  return  of  that  wedding  day  was  truly 
golden,  for  they  were  all  Irradiated  with  the 
heavenly  light  of  pure  affection,  growing  ever 
clearer  and  richer  unto  the  end.  O,  good,  gray 
head,  no  more  to  enter  our  doors !  O,  kind, 
strong  hand,  no  more  to  clasp  our  own  !  O, 
warm,  true  heart,  no  more  to  beat  In  friend- 
ship or  affection  here  on  earth  !  Into  the  dark- 
ness a  blessing  follows  you  —  the  blessing  of 
love  ! 

4.  Once  more  I  say,  he  zvJiom  zue  commemo- 
rate   to-day    was    a    Christian    man.       His    best 


56 

quality,  his  most  precious  possession,  was  his 
strong  and  simple  belief  in  Jesus  Christ,  the 
Son  of  God,  as  his  divine  Saviour  and  Master. 
I  do  not  speak  unadvisedly  in  saying  this.  / 
knozu  that  he  himself  wottld  say  that  infinitely 
beyond  a?iything  else  in  value,  more  precioits 
than  all  that  he  had  earned  in  wealth  or  honor, 
zuas  his  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesics.  It  was  the 
deepest  source  of  his  strength,  the  sure  pillar 
of  his  integrity,  the  fountain  of  his  kindness 
and  beneficence,  the  light  and  comfort  of  his 
declining    days. 

In  early  manhood  he  chose  Christ  for  his 
Lord  and  Saviour,  and  made  an  open  confession 
of  faith  in  Him.  He  took  his  place  among 
the  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  There  was 
no  doubt  as  to  which  side  he  stood  on  in 
the  great  conflict  between  light  and  darkness. 
He  threw  all  the  weight  of  his  fortune  and 
his  influence  on  the  side  of  Christianity.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Church,  not  in  name 
only,  but  in  deed  and  in  truth.  He  sought 
her  honor  and  usefulness,  he  supported  her 
with    his    purse    and    with    his    presence,    he    for- 


57 

sook  not  the  house  of  God,  nor  the  place  of 
prayer.  He  desired  and  endeavored  In  all 
things  to  approve  himself  a  faithful  follower 
of    Christ. 

During  the  last  months  of  his  earthly  life 
there  was  a  wondrous  quickening  of  faith  and 
love  in  his  soul.  He  felt  the  shadows  gather- 
ing around  him ;  he  knew  that  the  day  was 
almost  over  ;  but  he  knew  it  not  with  gloom 
or  despair,  but  with  a  calm  and  peaceful  hope, 
for  in  his  experience  was  fulfilled  that  blessed 
word  of  Scripture:  ''At  evening  time  it  shall 
be  light." 

With  reverent  hand  would  I  lift  for  a 
moment  the  curtain  which  shades  the  bed  of 
death,  and  pray  that  the  light  which  I  saw 
there  may  shine  into  all  our  hearts.  As  I 
stood  for  the  last  time  beside  his  couch,  on 
the  closing  day  of  his  life,  remembering 
many  sacred  interviews  that  had  gone  before, 
and  knowing  that  this  was  the  end,  he  spoke 
to  me  simply  and  quietly  of  his  readiness  to 
depart.  He  said,  ''I  am  ready  to  go  now  if 
it    is    God's    will — for    it    is    better,    it    is    better 


58 

with  Him."  His  confidence  was  not  in  him- 
self, nor  in  his  own  righteousness.  He  said, 
''  I  am  not  a  good  man,  I  have  done  nothing 
to  deserve  God's  favor.  All  my  trust  is  in 
Christ  and  His  mercy."  In  answer  to  a  ques- 
tion whether  he  felt  secure  in  that,  he  said, 
**  I  do,  I  do ;  I  feel  that  Christ  has  died  to 
make  my  peace  with  God.  I  have  never  felt 
this  as  I  feel  it  now.  It  is  my  comfort,  my 
peace.  I  leave  myself  in  His  hands,  for  there 
I  am  safe.  The  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  us 
from  all  sin."  And  when  the  last  simple  words 
of  prayer  had  been  spoken,  he  lifted  himself 
and  said  :  "  How  sweet,  how  precious,  how 
comforting,   Christ    is    my  Saviour." 

A  few  more  hours  of  tossing,  and  pain, 
and  weariness,  during  which  his  soul  often  took 
refuge  in  prayer,  and  his  broken  voice  spoke 
the  last  words  of  faith  and  love,  and  then, — 
quiet  fell  upon  the  tired  heart.  The  night 
came.     And    at    morning    he    was    still    asleep. 

But  Is  this  all, — this  peaceful  end  of  a  good 
life,  this  soft  descent  of  darkness,  this  well 
earned    repose,  and    is    the    rest    silence  ?       No  ; 


59 

thank  God,  It  is  not  all.  For  that  death  which 
seems  to  us  like  a  curtain,  falling  so  swiftly 
and  so  silently  as  the  last  breath  departs,  is 
bright  on  the  other  side  with  the  ineffable  and 
fadeless  glories  of  the  heavenly  world.  The 
body  has  fallen  asleep,  but  the  spirit  has 
awakened,  instantly,  joyously,  to  a  full  and 
perfect   life. 

The  fourteenth  day  of  February  dawned  for 
us  with  dark  clouds  and  heavy  tears  of  rain, 
but    he   who    has    departed    knew 

"  A   brighter  morn   than   ours." 

The  power  of  an  endless  life,  begun  here  by 
faith  amid  the  shadows,  and  uncertainties,  and 
oft  recurring  nights  of  mortality,  continued 
yonder  in  a  land  where  there  is  no  night, — 
this  is  the  heavenly  significance  of  a  Christian 
death.  For  him  who  has  used  the  day  of  his 
grace  aright,  who  has  made  his  peace  with 
God  through  Christ,  and  lived  in  faithful  obe- 
dience to  Him,  death  comes  not  as  the  end 
of  all  things,  but  as  the  beginning  of  a  new 
and  glorious  existence.     And  we  who  sorrow  for 


6o 

those  who  sleep  In  Christ,  ought  not  to  think 
of  their  Hves  as  gone  out  in  darkness,  but 
rather  to  look  up,  and  say  in-  the  words  of 
the    sweet    old    poet : 

"  They  are   all  gone  into   the   world    of  light, 

And    I    alone   sit   lingering  here ; 
Their  very  memory   is   fair   and   bright, 

And    my  sad  thoughts   doth   clear. 

"  I    see    them    walking    in    an    air    of   glory, 
Whose    light   doth    trample    on   my  days. 

My  days  which  are  at  best  but  dull  and  hoary. 
Mere  glimmerings  and  decays. 

"  O  holy  Hope  and  high  Humility — 

High  as  the  heavens  above ; 
These  are  your  walks,  and  you  have  showed  them   me 

To  kindle  my  cold  love." 

There  is  no  night  there.  I  cannot  under- 
stand just  what  heaven  is,  but  I  think  I  can 
feel  something  of  the  meaning  of  these  words. 
They  mean  that  there  is  no  weariness  in  that 
blessed  abode.  The  inhabitants  of  that  country, 
employed  in  higher  and  more  glorious  activities 
than  earth  can  ever  know,  speeding  ever  with 
glad  motion  on  their  joyous  tasks,  feel  no 
fatigue    nor    weakness.      They    faint    not,    neither 


6i 

need  to  sleep.  For  they  are  delivered  from 
the  weary  burdens  of  the  flesh.  They  are  free 
and  tireless  spirits.  Their  po\Vers  and  their 
joys    are    endless    and    unbroken. 

There  is  no  nigJit  there.  No  sin,  no 
shame,  no  guilt.  Dark,  dark  and  heavy  Is  the 
shadow  of  evil  that  rests  upon  us  here,  a 
shadow  full  of  bitterness  and  grief,  clouding 
our  brightest  days  and  hiding  the  face  of  our 
God  from  us.  But  there,  all  Is  pure  and 
clear  ;  no  more  stains  upon  the  soul,  no  more 
barriers  between  us  and  God.  The  light  of 
His  holiness  shall  flow  through  and  through 
us,  as  the  sunlight  flows  through  the  rainbow's 
glittering  arch,  making  every  drop  shine  like  a 
flawless   jewel. 

TJiere  is  no  night  tJiere.  No  death,  no 
separation.  Loving  hearts  there  united,  are 
parted  nevermore.  They  understand  each 
other  perfectly  ;  they  possess  each  other 
eternally.  The  glow  of  affection  fades  not, 
the  joy  of  Intercourse  is  not  broken.  They 
dwell    forever    in    the    light    of    love. 

There    is    no    night    there.       No    sorrow,    no 


62 

fear,  no  unbelief.  All  questionings  and  mis- 
givings, all  mysteries  and  doubts  are  swal- 
lowed up  and  lost  in  the  flood  of  radiance 
that  streams  from  the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of 
the  throne.  There  is  no  more  darkness,  no 
more  trembling,  no  more  mistrust.  For  to  be 
absent  from  the  body  is  to  be  present  with 
the  Lord,  and  the  ransomed  spirit  beholding 
in  unspeakable  rapture  the  blessed  face  of  the 
Son  of  God,  is  satisfied  when  it  awakes  in 
His   likeness. 

Glorious  awakening !  God  grant  it  to  us. 
When  the  night  of  death  comes  to  you  and 
to  me,  may  it  come  as  it  came  to  him  whom 
we  now  remember,  the  peaceful  close  of  a  well- 
spent  day,  and  the  welcome  passage 

"To  where,  beyond  these  shadows,  there  is  Light." 


Resolutions, 


NATIONAL    BANK    OF    COMMERCE. 


At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors of  the  National  Bank  of  Commerce,  In 
New  York,  held  on  Thursday,  February  15, 
1883,  the  death  of  the  Hon.  Edwin  D.  Morgan 
was  announced  as  having  occurred  at  8  a.  m., 
on    Wednesday,   February   14  ;   whereupon  It  was 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Commerce,  In  New  York, 
feeling  profoundly  the  great  loss  they  have 
sustained  in  the  death  of  their  late  associate 
and  friend,  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  and  beinor  moved 
by  a  pervading  sorrow,  would  extend  to  the 
afflicted  widow  of  the  deceased  their  heartfelt 
sympathy. 

Resolved,  That  by  the  death  of  Governor 
Morgan    this    bank    is    deprived    of    one    of    Its 


66 

oldest  and  most  useful  directors,  who  was 
always  recognized  by  his  fellow  members  as  a 
man  of  much  force,  of  extensive  knowledge 
and  controlling  influence  ;  alike  vigilant  and 
faithful  ;  and,  being  gifted  with  superior  abilities, 
he  was  valued  here  as  an  efficient  co-worker, 
while  he  was  endeared  to  his  associates  by 
the  manly  graces  which  adorned  his  character 
and  life,  and  lent  a  charm  to  his  intercourse 
with    all. 

Resolved,  That  as  a  token  of  respect  to  the 
memory  of  the  deceased,  the  following  minute 
be    entered    at    length    on    our    book   of    records. 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Board 
will  attend  the  funeral  in  a  body ;  and  a 
committee  will  accompany  the  remains  to  their 
final    resting    place    at    Hartford. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings 
be    sent    to    Mrs.    Morgan. 


67 


IN    MEMORIAM, 


Edwin  D.  Morgan,  who  died  in  this  city, 
on  Wednesday,  the  14th  inst.,  at  8  a.  m.,  was 
born  in  Washington,  Berkshire  County,  Massa- 
chusetts,  on    the    3d    day  of    February,    181 1. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  having  enjoyed 
but  Hmited  opportunities  of  acquiring  an  edu- 
cation, he  entered  the  store  of  his  uncle, 
Nathan  Morgan,  with  whom,  in  about  three 
years,    he    became    a    partner. 

In  1836  he  removed  to  New  York,  and 
engaged  in  business  on  his  own  account,  as  a 
grocer,  in  Front  Street.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  his  Hfe  may  be  divided  into  three 
periods  more  or  less  distinct  :  The  first  embraced 
about  twenty  years,  during  which  he  was  most 
active  as  a  merchant,  extending  his  operations 
from  our  own  to  foreign  countries,  and  becoming 
known  as  a  large  importer  of  teas,  sugars  and 
coffee.  His  connection  with  the  firm  of  E.  D. 
Morgan  &  Co.,  as  senior  partner,  was  continued 
through    various    changes     in     its     organization, 


68 

and  only  ceased  with  his  death.  For  an  equal 
period  of  about  twenty  years,  Including  a  portion 
of  the  years  allotted  to  his  active  business 
career,  he  was  largely  Identified  with  the  politi- 
cal life  of  our  City  and  State,  and  of  the 
United  States  —  being  at  one  time  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen  of  New 
York ;  twice  State  Senator  ;  a  delegate  to  a 
conference  assembled  at  Pittsburgh  In  1856  ; 
chairman  of  the  convention  that  followexl  at 
Philadelphia ;  and  afterward  chairman  of  the 
National  Republican  Committee  ;  tiuicc  a  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  New  York ;  and,  finally, 
a    Senator    of  the    United  States. 

After  fulfilling  the  term  for  which  he  was 
elected  to  this  last  high  office,  ending  In  1869, 
Governor  Morgan  directed  his  energies  largely 
to  the  various  institutions  with  which  he  was 
connected  as  a  director  ;  notably  the  United 
States  Trust  Company,  the  New  York,  Lake 
Erie  &  Western  R.R.  Co.,  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Co.,  and  the  National  Bank  of  Com- 
merce,   in    New  York. 

In     his    lontr      active     and     varied     career    as 


69 

merchant,  statesman  and  trustee,  he  enjoyed 
a  high  character  for  Integrity,  ability  and  good 
judgment ;  commanding  In  all  these  relations 
the    confidence    of    his    fellow    man. 

He  was  twice  tendered  the  office  of  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  and  twice  he  declined  the 
honor.  (His  nomination  by  President  Arthur 
was    confirmed    by  the    Senate.) 

His  Interest  In  political  affairs  did  not  cease 
with  his  retirement  from  the  United  States 
Senate,  but  his  counsel  has  been  ever  at  the 
command  of  those  filling  the  highest  offices  In 
public  life,  and  Is  believed  to  have  been  In 
these    latter    days    eminently    wise    and    salutary. 

In  the  critical  period  of  our  civil  war,  during 
which  he  was  the  Governor  of  this  State,  his 
services  were  as  Important  as  they  were  pa- 
triotic ;  contributing  largely  to  the  final  success 
of    the  war. 

It  does  not  fall  within  the  purpose  of  this 
minute  to  recall  and  recite  the  offices 
that  were  filled  by  Governor  Morgan  In 
social  and  religious  life,  nor  to  speak  of 
his    munificent    gifts    to    Institutions    of     learning 


70 

in  this  and  other  States  ;  these  and  what 
he  did  to  promote  the  cause  of  rehgion  and 
philanthropy  will  more  naturally  fall  to  the 
office    of    the    biographer. 

Governor  Morgan  was  elected  a  director  of 
this  bank  the  24th  of  June,  1843,  to  fill  a  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  resignation  of  the  late  Jona- 
than Sturges ;  and  this  record  would  be  incom- 
plete did  it  not  testify  to  the  faithfulness 
with  which  he  discharged  his  duty,  especially 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  state 
of  the  bank,  and  did  it  not  show  how,  with 
advancing  years,  he  won  upon  the  respect  and 
admiration  of  his  associates  of  the  bank,  who 
now  mourn  the  loss  of  an  upright,  dignified 
and   judicious    counsellor    and    friend. 


71 


AMERICAN    TRACT   SOCIETY. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  American  Tract  Society,  held  F^ebruary 
19,  1883,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  the  Hon. 
Edwin  Denison  Morgan,  the  Tract  Society 
laments  the  loss  of  a  steadfast  and  efficient 
friend,  whose  aid  could  always  be  relied  upon 
and  whose  name  was  a  tower  of  strength.  He 
was  born  in  Washington,  Mass.,  among  the 
Berkshire  Hills,  February  3,  181 1,  but  spent 
his  early  life  in  Connecticut,  and  came  from 
Hartford  to  New  York  in  1836,  where  the 
business  energy,  boldness  and  sagacity  he  had 
already  shown  found  a  wider  field  and  secured 
large  and  rapidly  growing  successes.  The  same 
qualities  that  gained  him  eminence  as  a  mer- 
chant    prince,     also     made     him     prominent     in 


72 

various  corporations  with  which  he  was  associ- 
ated, and  prepared  him  for  the  faithful  and 
most  Important  services  he  was  enabled  In 
God's  providence  to  render  to  the  country,  as 
Governor  of  the  Empire  State  during  two 
critical  terms  In  our  national  history,  and  after- 
ward as  United  States  Senator  from  this  State, 
from  1863  to  1869.  He  scorned  to  enrich 
himself  at  the  cost  of  his  country  In  the  hour 
of  her  sore  perplexity  and  need  ;  and  his 
inflexible  Integrity  and  honor  stood  as  a  barrier 
against  many  corrupt  schemes.  As  a  Christian 
merchant    he    was    an    honor    to    the    name. 

For  eight  years,  beginning  In  1875,  he  has 
been  officially  connected  with  the  Tract  Society 
as  a  Vice  President,  a  regular  and  liberal  con- 
tributor to  Its  funds,  and  often  cheering  the 
anniversary  hour  with  his  attentive  presence. 
The  Union  Theological  Seminary  In  this  city, 
as  well  as  Williams  College  and  other  institu- 
tions, found  in  him  a  most  liberal  benefactor. 
His  well  rounded  life  terminated  in  Christian 
peace,  February  14,  and  an  almost  unexampled 
concourse   of    men    of    distinction    in    the    Church 


and  In  the  State  did  him  honor  at  his  burial. 
Yet  nothing  in  his  useful  life  gave  him  more 
satisfaction,  at  its  close,  than  what  he  had  done 
and  given  distinctively  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  this  minute  be  sent 
to  the  family  of  Mr.  Morgan,  with  the  ex- 
pression of  the  heartfelt  and  respectful  sym- 
pathy of  the  committee  and  officers  of  the 
society. 

A  true  copy  from   the  minutes. 

Wm.  W.   Rand, 

Secretary. 


74 


ASSEMBLY,    STATE    OF    NEW    YORK. 


PROCEEDINGS     IN     THE      ASSEMBLY     OF      THE     STATE     OF      NEW 
YORK,      MONDAY     EVENING,     FEBRUARY     I9,      1883,      UPON 

THE    OCCASION    OF     THE     SPECIAL    ORDER    OF    THE    DAY  

THE  REPORT  OF  THE  COMMITTEE  APPOINTED  TO  DRAFT 
RESOLUTIONS  OF  RESPECT  FOR  THE  MEMORY  OF  EDWIN 
D.  MORGAN,  FORMERLY  GOVERNOR  OF  THE  STATE  OF 
NEW    YORK. 

The  Speaker  having,  on  a  previous  occasion, 
appointed  the  following  gentlemen  a  select  com- 
mittee to  draft  resolutions,  viz.  :  Messrs.  Eras- 
tus  Brooks,  Walter  Howe,  William  A.  Poucher, 
George  H.  Roesch,  Stafford  C.  Cleveland,  Mr. 
Brooks,  from  that  committee,  reported  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions : 

Resolved,  That  the  Assembly  learn  with  pro- 
found sorrow  of  the  sudden  death  of  the  Hon. 
EiJWiN  D.  M()Kc;an,  twice  the  chief  magis- 
trate    of     the     State,     twice     a     Senator     in     the 


75 

Legislature,  and  once,  by  the  votes  of  the 
two  houses  of  the  Legislature,  Senator  of  the 
State  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

In  all  these  important  offices,  filled  by  the 
votes  of  constituents  at  home,  by  the  voice  of 
the  people  at  large,  and  by  the  votes  of  the 
representatives  of  the  people  in  the  two  houses 
of  the  Legislature,  the  present  Assembly  recall 
very  many  patriotic  and  eminent  services  ren- 
dered to  the  people  of  this  commonwealth 
and    to    the    people    of   the    United    States. 

In  the  Civil  War  no  man  was  more  faith- 
ful in  his  devotion  to  the  honor  of  the  State, 
and  no  one  more  liberal  in  providing  for  its 
support.  In  his  official  life,  as  the  Governor 
of  the  State,  he  directed  and  encouraged  all 
honorable  means  to  maintain  the  integrity  of 
the  union  of  the  States  ;  and,  as  the  chief  citi- 
zen of  this  commonwealth,  by  precept  and  by 
example,  in  work,  hope  and  faith,  he  encour- 
aged his  fellow  citizens  in  defending  the  flag  of 
his  country  until  the  Union  was  restored,  and 
peace  and  good  will  re-established  among  the 
whole    people. 


76 

The  Assembly  of  this  State,  while  deeply 
lamenting  the  sudden  death  and  loss  of  one 
so  long  in  the  public  service,  take  great  sat- 
isfaction in  expressing,  in  this  public  manner, 
their  regard  for  his  distinguished  patriotism, 
their  respect  for  his  philanthropy,  and  their 
esteem  for  that  constant  display  of  practical 
Christian  charity  which  marked,  in  an  especial 
manner,    the    years   of    his    long    life. 

He  gave  liberally  to  relieve  human  suf- 
fering, and  to  promote  Christian  education 
throughout    the    State    and   country. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  proceedings 
be  entered  upon  the  journal  of  this  House, 
and    forwarded    to    the    family    of    the    deceased. 


n 


ASSOCIA  TION 

FOR    THE  RELIEF  OF  RESPECTABLE 

AGED    INDIGENT   FEMALES. 


Asylum,  226  East  2oth  St.,  ) 


New  York,  February  75,  1883 

My  dear  Mrs.  Morgan: 

It  becomes  my  sad  duty  to  express  to  you 
and  your  family  the  sympathy  of  the  Board  of 
Managers  of  the  Association  for  the  ReHef  of 
Respectable  Aged  Indigent  Females,  as  ex- 
pressed at  a  special  meeting  held  this  day,  in 
your  and  their  bereavement  In  the  loss  of 
your    honored    husband. 

We  realize  that  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Mor- 
gan we  have  lost  a  wise  counsellor  and  adviser, 
whose  time  has  been  freely  given,  and  whose 
energies  have  been  devoted  to  our  best 
interests. 


78 

We  do  not  desire  to  wound  afresh  by  re- 
counting his  many  virtues,  but,  as  fellow  work- 
ers with  you,  we  personally  mourn  his  loss,  and 
wish  to  record  this  tribute  of  respect  and  re- 
gard  for    our    valued    friend    and    associate. 

Recopfnizlnof  In  his  loss  the  hand  of  God, 
we  tender  to  you  and  your  family  our  deep 
and    earnest    sympathy. 

By    order    of   the    Board, 

K.   H.   Hamlin, 

Secretary. 


79 


WOMAN'S    HOSPITAL,    IN    THE 
STATE    OF    NEW   YORK, 


Cor.  of  49TH  St.  and  4TH  Ave., 
New  York,  February  ig^  i88j. 

Dear   Madam  : 

I  beg  to  send  you  a  copy  of  a  minute 
which  was  adopted  at  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Governors  of  the  Woman's  Hospital, 
In  the  State  of  New  York,  held  on  the  14th 
instant. 

*'  The  Board  of  Governors  of  the  Woman's 
Hospital,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  convened 
to  take  action  in  reference  to  the  death  of 
Hon.  E.  D.  Morgan,  their  late  president, 
direct    this    minute    to    be    made : 

''  Governor  Morgan  was  one  of  the  Incor- 
porators of  this  institution,  and  served  as  a 
governor  from  1857  to  1859,  when  he  re- 
signed,   and    was    again    elected    a    member    of 


8o 

the  Board  in  1871,  and,  In  1877,  ^^  the 
death  of  our  former  president,  James  W. 
Beekman,  was  elected  to  the  vacant  position. 
"  Governor  Morgan  has  administered  the 
duties  of  the  office  from  that  time  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  February  14,  1883,  with 
that  distinguished  ability  and  generosity  which 
he  has  shown  throughout  his  eventful  and 
Illustrious  life.  During  the  period  of  his 
administration  as  president  he  has  contributed 
most  liberally  to  the  support  of  the  hospital, 
and,  through  his  Influence  and'  example,  others 
have  been  Induced  to  give  largely  when  the  wants 
of  the  Institution  were  most  pressing.  Wise 
In  counsel,  discreet  and  discriminating  In  the 
choice  of  his  benefactions,  his  aim  was  always 
to  so  give  that  his  generosity  should  accom- 
plish permanent  good.  As  president  of  the 
hospital,  In  the  midst  of  his  other  pressing 
private  and  public  engagements.  Governor 
Morgan  gave  his  personal  attention  to  the 
duties  of  the  office,  was  present  at  Its  meet- 
ings, except  in  rare  instances  when  actual  sick- 
ness   prevented,    and    though    at    an    age    when, 


8i 

after  so  remarkable  a  career,  he  had  a  right 
to  rest,  gave  most  cheerfully  to  the  many  diffi- 
cult questions  arising  in  the  administration  of 
this  trust,  that  careful  thought  and  the  bene- 
fit of  that  large  experience  which  has  ranked 
his  name  so  high  as  a  merchant  and  a  citi- 
zen, and  which,  in  the  dark  days  of  our 
internal  conflict,  made  him,  as  chief  magistrate 
of    this  commonwealth,  a  tower  of  strength. 

''He  died  as  he  had  lived — a  firm  believer 
in  that  faith  of  which  he  had  long  ago,  in 
the  days  of  his  greatest  activity,  made  a  full 
profession. 

''We  here  tender  to  the  members  of  his 
family  our  most  profound  and  respectful 
sympathy. 

"  At    the    same    meeting    it    was 

''Resolved,    That    the    members    of    the    Board 
attend    the    funeral    services   at    the    church    in   a 
body,    and    that    a   committee    from    the    Board 
accompany    the    remains    to    Hartford." 
Yours  respectfully, 

C.   N.   Talikjt, 

Secretary. 


82 


IVOMAA^'S    HOSP/TAL,    IN    THE 
STATE    OF  NEW    YORK. 


Cor.  49TH  St.  and  4TH  Ave.,      ( 
New  York,  March  j>,  1883.  S 

As  the  Board  of  Lady  Supervisors  of  the 
Woman's  Hospital  met  to-day,  our  first  im- 
pulse, as  well  as  our  first  duty,  was  to  ex- 
press our  profound  sense  of  the  loss  we  have 
experienced  in  the  death  of  the  President  of 
our  Board  of  Governors,  the  Hon.  E.  D. 
Morgan. 

He  was  for  many  years  closely  associated 
with  us,  and  his  interest  in  our  work  was 
unfailing.  If  we  could  coin  golden  words 
from  the  love  and  reverence  of  our  hearts, 
they  might  form  some  fitting  tribute  to  his 
memory.  But  words  can  poorly  express  his 
worth — a    man  wise   in    counsel,  just  in   decision, 


83 

firm  In  friendship,  princely  In  liberality,  and 
with  a  largeness  of  Christian  character  which 
permeated  the  whole.  ''The  Lord  gave  and 
the  Lord  hath  taken  away."  ''He  has  gone 
to  that  city  where  the  Inhabitants  shall  no 
more  say,  'I  am  sick,'"  and  "where  God 
shall    wipe    the    tears    from    all    eyes." 

And  now,  while  we  mourn  most  sincerely 
our  own  loss,  we  grieve  still  more  deeply  for 
those  members  of  his  family  and  household,  to 
whom  this  bereavement  comes  with  added 
force,  and  therefore,  as  a  Board  and  as  Indi- 
viduals, we  hereby  desire  to  express  to  them 
our  sincerest  sympathy,  praying  that  God  may 
be  with  them,  and  that  His  rod  and  His 
staff  may  comfort  them  at  this  time  and 
forever. 

Signed  by   order  of   the   Board, 

Phebe    Lord    Day, 

Secretary. 


84 


CHAMBER    OF    COMMERCE. 


Monthly  Meeting, 

Thursday,  March  /,   i88j. 

The  regular  monthly  meeting  of  the  Chamber 
OF  Commerce  was  held  this  day  at  one  o'clock 
p.  m.,  at  the  Rooms  of  the  Chamber,  No.  63 
William  Street.  Present  —  George  W.  Lane, 
President ;  James  M.  Brown,  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent;  William  H.  Fogg,  Second  Vice-President; 
George  Wilson,  Secretary ;  and  a  quorum  of 
members. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  William  H.  Fogg,  the 
regular  order  of  business  was  suspended.  Mr. 
Fogg  said  that  Mr.  John  Austin  Stevens  had 
been  requested  to  prepare  a  minute  in  regard 
to  the  death  of  Ex-Governor  Edwin  D.  Mor- 
gan, which  he  would  present  for  the  action  of 
the    Chamber. 

Mr.  Stevens  submitted  and  read  the  following 
niinute    and    accompanying    resolutions  : 


85 


IN    MEMORY    OF    EDWIN    D.    MORGAN. 

Born  Feb.  3,  iSii.     Dip:d  Feh.  14,   1883. 

The  Chamber  of  Commerce  this  day  record 
their  sense  of  the  loss  they,  in  common  with 
the  entire  body  of  merchants  of  this  city  and 
the  community  at  large,  have  sustained  in  the 
death  of  their  distinguished  associate,  the  Hon. 
Edwin    Denlson    Morgan. 

Of  the  many  illustrious  members  of  this 
ancient  corporation,  who  have  filled  high  public 
offices,  but  three  have  been  intrusted  by  the 
people  of  this  State  with  the  supreme  execu- 
tive authority.  And  of  these,  Mr.  Morgan  only 
was  a  merchant.  To  his  honorable  and  success- 
ful life  we  therefore  point  with  the  utmost  pride. 
That  life,  reachinof  the  full  measure  of  the 
span  allotted  to  man,  is  a  part  of  the  history 
of  the  country.  From  its  study,  generations  of 
our  youth  shall  learn  lessons  of  industry,  saga- 
city, inflexible  determination  and  devotion  to 
duty.  They  shall  find  that  republics  are  not 
ungrateful,  and  that  from  modest  origin  the 
path    to    highest    honors    lies    open    to    him    who 


86 

treads  with  firm  and  unwavering  step.  They 
shall  find,  also,  that  the  pursuit  of  commerce 
is  not  a  bar  to  political  distinction,  but  on  the 
contrary,  when  allied  to  a  thorough  under- 
standing of  economic  principles,  may  prove  a 
sure  qualification. 

From  early  youth  Mr.  Morgan  displayed  the 
grasp  of  mind,  the  strong  self-confidence  which 
he  carried  into  every  enterprise,  every  business, 
every  office  with  which  he  later  had  to  do. 
No  scheme  was  too  large  for  his  comprehension, 
no  difficulties  too  great  for  his  mastery.  He 
was  bold  as  he  was  wise.  From  a  small 
beginning  in  a  special  trade,  he  rapidly  ex- 
tended his  operations  over  a  wide  field,  and 
became  a  merchant,  in  the  broadest  sense  of 
the    term  ;  a    banker    and    a   financier. 

Success  rewarded  his  untiring  and  well  directed 
labor.  He  accumulated  great  wealth  for  himself, 
and  by  his  wise  counsels  promoted  the  pros- 
perity of  some  of  the  most  important  financial 
and  industrial  institutions  of  this  City  and 
State.  He  was  for  many  years  a  Director  in 
the    National     Hank    of    Commerce,    the    United 


87 

States  Trust  Company,  the  New  York,  Lake 
Erie  and  Western  Railroad  Company  and  the 
Western    Union    Telegraph    Company. 

But  business  success  did  not  satisfy  the 
measure  of  his  ambition,  and  from  his  youth 
he  aimed  at  public  honors.  At  twenty-one  he 
was  a  member  of  the  City  Council  of  Hart- 
ford. In  1849  he  was  elected  to  the  Board 
of  Assistant  Aldermen  of  the  City  of  New 
York,  and  from  this  time  forward  was  almost 
without  interruption  in  public  service,  rising 
steadily  in  grades  of  trust.  He  represented 
the  Sixth  District  in  the  Senate  of  the  State 
in  1850  and  1852,  and  held  the  important 
post  of  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Finance. 
He  carried  the  bill  establishing  the  Central 
Park.  From  1855  to  1858  he  was  Commis- 
sioner of  Emi<xration.  One  of  the  founders  of 
the  Republican  party,  in  which  was  consoli- 
dated the  Free  Soil  sentiment  of  this  State, 
he  took  early  and  important  part  in  its 
deliberations.  In  1858  he  was  chosen  Governor 
of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  re-elected  by  a 
large    majority  in  i860.      His   administration  was 


88 

distinguished     by    economy,    strict    accountability, 
and    a    reduction    of    the    pubHc    debt. 

On  the  secession  of  the  Southern  States,  he 
tendered  to  the  President  the  resources  of  the 
State,  secured  the  necessary  appropriation  from 
the  Legislature,  and  immediately  organized  its 
military  forces.  Aided  by  the  gentleman,  now 
the  distinoruished  Chief  Maofistrate  of  the  United 
States,  he  directed  the  enlistment  and  support 
of  the  large  armies  which  marched  to  the  front 
from  New  York  in  defence  of  the  Union.  Ten- 
dered the  appointment  of  Major-General  of  Volun- 
teers, he  accepted  the  rank,  but  declined  any  com- 
pensation for  his  services.  In  1862  he  was 
chosen  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  New 
York,  a  position  which  he  held  with  honor  and 
credit  till  1869.  He  was  twice  nominated  to 
the  post  of  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  by  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  but  declined  the  appointment ; 
later,  nominated  by  President  Arthur,  and  unani- 
mously confirmed  by  the  Senate,  he  again  re- 
fused   the    signal    honor. 

In  every  sense  Mr.  Morgan  was  a  merchant 
prince,    after   the    manner   of    the    illustrious   men 


89 

who  ruled  the  fortunes  of  the  Italian  States  in 
their  days  of  power  and  glory ;  like  them,  he 
was  a  munificent  patron  of  letters  and  of  art. 
His  large  gallery  of  paintings  contains  choice 
works  of  the  best  of  modern  artists,  native  and 
foreign,  and  his  benefactions  to  colleges  and 
schools  were  on  a  princely  scale,  including 
buildings,  libraries  and  educational  foundations. 
His  charities  were  equally  extensive;  his  well- 
devised  and  wisely  distributed  bequests  reaching 
to    a    tithe  of    his    large    estate. 

Although  Mr.  Morgan  at  no  time  held  any 
office  in  this  Chamber,  he  was  alive  to  the 
merit  of  its  services  to  the  true  interests  of 
the  nation,  and  in  his  executive  and  legislative 
offices  promoted  its  recommendations,  as  the 
authoritative  opinions  of  the  merchants  of  New 
York.  He  was,  moreover,  represented  in  the 
councils  of  the  Chamber  by  members  of  his 
commercial    firm. 

In  our  deep  sorrow  for  the  great  public  loss 
sustained  in  the  death  of  this  noble  and  upright 
character,  we  remember  the  greater  bereave- 
ment   to    his    family  ;    may    they,     as    we,     find 


90 

consolation  In  the  general  honor  paid  by  his 
friends,  his  associates  and  his  countrymen  to 
the    merchant    statesman. 

Resolved,  That  this  memorial  minute  be 
entered  upon  the  records  of  the  Chamber,  and 
that  a  copy  be  sent  to  his  Excellency  the 
Governor  of  the  State  of  New  York,  to  the 
President  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 
and    to    the    President    of    the    United    States. 

Resolved  fitrthery  That  a  copy  be  sent  to 
the  family  of  Mr.  Morgan,  with  the  expression 
of  our  sincere  sympathy  in  their  great  bereave- 
ment. 


91 


MARITIME    ASSOCIATION,    PORT    OF 
NEW    YORK, 


New  York,  February  /p,  1883. 

i\t  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  this 
Association,  held  this  day,  the  following  preamble 
and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas,  The  recent  decease  of  Hon.  Edwin 
D.  Morgan  calls  for  something  more  than  ordinary 
recognition  from  this  Association,  In  view  of  the 
prominent  position  he  occupied  for  many  years 
past  in  the  business  community  of  New  York  ; 
and. 

Whereas,  In  common  with  the  other  mercantile 
Interests  of  New  York,  we  recognize  the  decease 
of  Edwin  D.  Morgan  as  creating  a  void  not  easily 
filled  ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Directors  of  this 
Association  desire  to  place  on  record  their  appre- 


92 

ciation  of  the  loss  the  mercantile  community  has 
sustained  In  the  decease  of  so  distinguished  a 
merchant  and  statesman  as  Edwin  D.  Morgan.  It 
is  not  usual  to  find  combined  in  one  nature  the 
qualities  that  make  a  man  equally  estimable  in 
both  capacities.  Mr.  Morgan  possessed  them  to 
the  largest  extent,  and  in  whatever  light  you  view 
his  character,  either  as  a  merchant,  as  Governor  of 
this  State,  or  as  United  States  Senator,  he  exem- 
plified by  his  acts  in  each  capacity  the  simple  fact 
that  he  was  always  the  right  man  and  in  the  right 
place. 

Edwin  D.  Morgan,  after  a  life  of  usefulness, 
has  gone  to  his  long  home.  He  had  passed  the 
''threescore  years  and  ten"  allotted  to  man. 

This  Association  beers  to  add  this  slii^ht  tribute 
of  regard,  esteem  and  affection  to  his  memory. 

Charles  F.   Elwell, 

President. 

Henry  A.  Thomas, 

Acting  Secretary. 


93 


UNION     THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY. 


At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Union  Theological  Seminary,  In  the  City 
of  New  York,  held  February  15,  1883,  the  follow- 
ing minute  was  adopted  unanimously,  and  ordered 
to  be  placed  upon  the  records : 

Minute. 

The  death  of  ex-Governor  Morgan  has  removed 
from  Influential  circles  one  who,  through  a  long  and 
consistent  life,  has  been  a  faithful  servant  of  both 
the  State  and  the  Church.  Beginning  life  upon 
the  common  level,  by  Industry,  Integrity  and 
fidelity  to  every  trust,  he  rose  steadily  and  without 
any  relapses,  to  high  public  confidence  and  honor. 
His  career  makes  an  Important  part  of  the  com- 
mercial and  political  history  of  his  time.  He 
served  the  State  of  his  adoption  and  the  country 
of  his  birth  in  times  of  peace  and  also  of  peril.      In 


94 

the  great  emergency  he  proved  equal  to  the  occa- 
sion, and,  Hke  the  great  Enghsh  commoner,  was  a 
pilot  who  weathered  the  storm.  The  American 
people  will  always  remember  his  services  and 
cherish  his  name. 

But  the  directors  of  the  Union  Seminary,  repre- 
senting, not  political,  but  educational  and  religious 
Interests,  have  a  special  reason  for  expressing  their 
grief  at  his  death,  and  recording  their  respect  for 
the  departed. 

Governor  Morgan,  while  engrossed  as  few  have 
been  In  commercial  and  mercantile  pursuits,  was 
never  blinded  by  them  to  the  paramount  Import- 
ance of  learning  and  religion.  These  always 
elicited  his  respect  and  received  his  substantial 
support.  This  spirit  grew  upon  him  as  he  ad- 
vanced in  years  and  drew  nearer  the  time  when 
men  must  give  an  account  of  their  stewardship. 

In  the  distribution  of  large  sums  for  benevolent 
purposes,  he  remembered  this  Institution  of  sacred 
learning,  established  In  the  metropolis  where  a 
favoring  providence  had  permitted  him  to  amass 
great  wealth.  The  munificent  gift  of  Governor 
Morgan  enabled  the  Union  Theological  Seminary 


95 

to  take  a  new  departure,  and  crowning  the  previous 
benefactions  of  Its  generous  patrons  and  friends, 
placed  its  future  beyond  doubt  and  anxiety.  In  all 
coming  time  any  who  shall  either  give  or  receive 
Instruction  In  this  Institution,  and  all  who  shall  feel 
any  good  Influence  from  It,  will  mention  with 
regard  and  veneration  the  name  of  Edwin  D. 
Morgan. 

To  his  widowed  companion  for  fifty  years,  and 
to  all  his  sorrowing  kindred,  the  directors  of  Union 
Seminary  would  express  their  sincere  sympathy 
and  most  respectful  condolence. 

Charles  Butler, 

President. 
E.     M.     KiNGSLEY, 

Secretary. 


96 


PRESBYTERIAN   HOSPITAL, 


The  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Hospital  are  filled  with  profound  grief  by  the 
death  of  Its  president,  ex-Governor  Edwin  D. 
Morgan,  who  rose  by  his  own  exertions  and 
merits  to  the  highest  positions — social,  mercan- 
tile, moral  and  political,  In  the  City,  State  and 
nation.  His  death  Is  an  almost  irreparable  loss 
to  the  community  In  which,  during  an  active, 
extremely  useful  and  eventful  life,  he  did  so 
much  for  his  fellow  men.  It  Is  also  an  equally 
great    loss    to    the    Presbyterian    Hospital. 

Governor  Morgan  was  one  of  the  most 
liberal  benefactors  of  the  hospital,  and  one  of 
Its  most  active  and  useful  managers,  always 
manifesting  a  hearty  Interest  In  Its  success  and 
prosperity. 

Wherefore,  this  Board  directs  this  minute  to 
be    entered    on    its    records    of     its     high    esti- 


97 

matlon  of  their  deceased  president,  and  re- 
solve that  they  will  attend  his  funeral  in  a 
body,  and  that  a  copy  of  this  minute  be  sent 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

We  hereby  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  cor- 
rect extract  from  the  minutes  of  a  meeting  of 
the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Hospital,    held    on    the    15th    day    of    February, 

1883. 

Geo.   W.   Lane, 

Vice  President. 

Henry  M.  Tabor, 

Recording  Secretary. 


98 


.VBJF  YOKA\  LAKE  ERIE  &  WESTERN 
RAILROAD    COMPANY. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  New  York,  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Rail- 
road Company,  held  February  15,  1883,  Mr. 
Jewett  presiding,  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  the  death  of  the  Hon.  Edwin 
D.  Morgan  has  deprived  this  company  of  one 
of    its    most    valued    and    efficient    officers. 

As  director  and  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  for  a  number  of  years  past,  his 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  company  has 
ever  been  shown  by  wise  counsels,  by  ready 
aid  and  influence,  and  by  unswerving  confi- 
dence in  its  ultimate  i)rosperity.  His  personal 
care  and  attention  have  been  freely  given,  at 
all    times,    to    sustain     the    credit    and    the    rcpu- 


99 

tation  of  the  company,  and  with  the  moral 
weight  of  his  name  and  reputation,  have  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  success  which  thus  far 
the    company    has    attained. 

His  associates  desire  to  recognize  his  un- 
varying courtesy  and  his  consideration  for  the 
views  of  others,  and,  by  formal  entry  upon 
the  records  of  the  company,  to  perpetuate 
evidence  of  their  appreciation  of  his  high 
character,  and  of  the  great  value  of  his  past 
services  to  the  company. 

Certified  as  a  true  copy  from  the  records. 

A.   R.  Macdonough, 

Secretary. 


lOO 


NEW    YORK   CITY  MISSION, 


No.  50  Bible  House,  \ 

New  York,  March  5,  1883.  ) 

In  regular  meeting  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  City  Mission,  held  this  day,  ap- 
propriate mention  being  made  of  the  death  of 
prominent  members.  It  was  voted  that  the  fol- 
lowing minute  be  entered  upon  the  records,  and 
a  copy  sent  to  the  family  of    the  departed  : 

''The  City  Mission,  called  repeatedly  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  Its  most  distinguished  mem- 
bers, would  bear  grateful  testimony  to  the 
memory  of  the  Hon.  Edwin  D.  Morgan, 
whose    valuable    life    has   just    terminated. 

''Governor  Morgan,  prominent  In  the  estima- 
tion of  all  good  citizens,  for  his  many  civic  and 
social  virtues.  Is  most  affectionately  remembered 
by    this    committee    for    his     large     hearted     and 


lOI 

generous    interest    In     the     cause     of     Christian 
education    and    philanthropy. 

**The  Executive  Committee  would  beg  to  as- 
sure Mrs.  Morgan  of  its  most  sincere  sympathy 
in    this    hour    of    bereavement    and    sorrow. 

Morris  K.  Jesup, 

President. 
L.   E.  Jackson, 

Secretary. 


I02 


UNION  LEAGUE    CLUB. 


RESOLUTIONS    PREPARED    BY    HON.    WM.    M.    EVARTS. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Edwin  D. 
Morgan,  the  community  in  which  he  so  long 
filled  so  prominent  and  so  useful  a  position  has 
suffered  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most  eminent 
citizens,  a  patriotic  and  public  spirited  statesman, 
a  generous  public  benefactor  and  an  upright  and 
faithful  man. 

Resolved,  That  the  career  of  Governor  Mor- 
gan, both  in  his  private  pursuits  as  a  merchant, 
and  in  the  full  round  of  his  political  employment 
in  the  service  of  the  City,  the  State  and  the 
Nation,  presents  a  signal  instance  of  those  sterl- 
ing and  steadfast  qualities  which,  under  our 
beneficent  institutions  of  government  and  society, 
secure  the  highest  honors  to  their  possessors, 
and  the  highest  benefits  to  the  community  from 
their  exhibition  and  exercise. 


I03 

Resolved,  That  the  Union  League  Chib,  be- 
sides its  share  in  this  general  bereavement  and 
grief,  laments  the  removal  from  continued  service 
and  fellowship  of  one  of  its  most  valued  and 
most  honored  members,  one  to  whose  earnest 
support  and  wise  and  courageous  counsels  it 
always  looked  with  confidence  in  every  critical 
position  of  its  affairs. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions, 
signed  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the 
Club,  be  transmitted  to  the  family  of  our  de- 
ceased friend  and  associate,  with  an  expression 
of  our  sincere  condolence  in  their  affliction. 


I04 


BOARD    OF    ALDERMEN,     CITY    OF 
NEW    YORK. 


By  Alderman  M.  Duffy  : 

Whereas,  In  the  demise  of  one  so  eminent  In 
the  history  of  National,  State  and  Municipal  poli- 
tics as  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  United  States  Senator, 
Governor  and  Alderman,  It  Is  but  fitting  that  the 
representatives  of  the  metropolis  of  the  Empire 
State  should  make  record  of  the  fact  and  give 
attestation  to  his  many  virtues,  whilst  expressing 
earnest  sympathy  for  his  relatives  and  friends ; 
therefore. 

Resolved,  That,  recognizing  with  unfaltering 
faith  the  Inscrutable  wisdom  of  the  ''  Great  Ruler 
of  the  Universe"  in  that  It  Is  declared  to  us  ''  He 
doeth  all  things  well,"  we  cannot  but  deplore  the 
fiat  which  has  removed  from  his  earthly  labors  of 
love  and  charity  the  lamented  Edwin  D.  Morgan, 


I05 

one  so  kind  and  generous  by  nature,  so  eminent  In 
national  council,  and  we  record  herewith  our  recog- 
nition that  he  was  faithful  to  the  trusts  confided  to 
him  by  the  State  as  Governor  In  the  trying  period 
of  a  nation's  peril,  and  earnest  In  the  performance 
of  his  duties  as  representative  in  the  legislative 
councils  of  this  municipality.  His  unbounded 
generosity  and  open  handed  charity  are  endearing 
to  memory,  and  we  sorrow  at  his  death,  but  glory 
In  the  hope  of  his  higher  attainments. 

Resolved,  That  we  realize  that  no  panegyric, 
however  eloquent,  can  add  lustre  to  his  fame, 
which  Is  already  historic,  yet  we  may  testify  our 
appreciation  thereof,  and  of  the  fact  that  his 
record  thus  attained  will  remain  as  Imperishable  as 
that  of  National,  State  or  Municipal  government. 

Resolved,  That  we  extend  to  the  relatives  and 
friends  of  the  lamented  Senator,  Governor  and 
Alderman  our  sincere  condolence  In  their  bereave- 
ment ;  that  the  Clerk  be  directed  to  appropriately 
transmit  the  same  to  his  family,  and  that  in 
respect  to  his  memory  this  Board  do  now  adjourn. 

In  seconding  the  adoption  of  the  preamble  and 
resolutions,   Aldermen   FItzpatrick    and   Cochrane 


io6 

adverted  in  glowing  tributes  to  the    private  and 
public  worth  and  services  of  the  deceased. 

The  President  then  put  the  question  on  the 
preamble  and  all  but  the  last  resolution,  which 
was  decided  in  the  affirmative,  unanimously. 
The  President  then  put  the  question  whether 
the  Board  would  agree  with  the  last  resolution, 
which  was  decided  in  the  affirmative.  And  the 
President  announced  that  the  Board  stood  ad- 
journed until  Tuesday,  the  27th  instant,  at  12 
o'clock  m. 

Francis  J.  Twomey, 

Clerk. 


iWemoriate  of  Col>eir  ©nes. 


(%1 


WXmmm 

OF   THE    LATE 

EDWIN    DENISON    MORGAN,    Jr.,  M.   D., 

BY    C.    R.    AGNEW,    M.    D. 

(Read  before   the   Medical  Society  of  the  County  of  New  York, 
January,    1880.) 


Edwin  Denison  Morgan,  Jr.,  a  late  mem- 
ber of  our  society,  was  born  in  1834,  at  Hart- 
ford, Connecticut,  and  died  at  Suffield,  In  the 
same  State,  on  the  fifteenth  of  August,  1879. 
His  remains  were  buried  In  the  family  burial 
place.  In  the  Cedar  Hill  Cemetery,  Hartford,  on 
the  eighteenth  of  August,  1879.  His  life  was 
not  what  would  be  called  a  very  eventful  one, 
but  it  had  one  great  quality,  that  it  grew 
brighter  and  more  beneficent  as  It  advanced, 
until  it  ripened  under  the  benign  Influence  of 
Christian  faith,  and  closed,  leaving  a  priceless 
legacy  to  his  family  that  there  was  a  well- 
founded  hope  of  blessed  Immortality. 


no 

Dr.  Morgan  got  his  early  education  at 
Greenwich,  Connecticut.  At  fifteen  years  of 
age  he  made  a  voyage  around  the  world  in  a 
sailing  ship.  At  its  close  he  entered  the 
Literary  Institute  at  Suffield,  Connecticut.  At 
nineteen  years  of  age  he  married  Sarah  E. 
Archer,  of  that  town,  to  whom,  under  God,  as 
he  was  wont  to  say,  he  owed  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude impossible  to  overestimate. 

From  i860  to  1862  he  served  as  colonel 
on  the  staff  of  his  father,  then  Governor  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  saw  something 
of  that  political  storm  which  burst  upon  our 
country  in  the  great  civil  war ;  and  the  bold 
and  fearless  stand  which  his  patriotic  father 
took  to  cast  the  entire  power  of  our  State  on 
the    side    of    our    menaced    national    unity. 

It  was  after  that  time  that  his  life 
became  a  more  earnest  one,  and  to  be  in- 
spired with  motives  of  a  character  which  im- 
pelled him  to  resist  more  actively  the  induce- 
ments to  luxurious  ease,  which  abundant  pe- 
cuniary means  so  constantly  presented,  he 
determined    to    devote    the     rest    of     his     life    to 


1 1 1 


the  arduous  pursuits  of  our  profession.  He 
went  to  Europe  in  1867,  returned  at  the  end 
of  a  year,  and  began  the  study  of  medicine, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-three,  with  vigor,  zeal,  en- 
thusiasm and  pertinacity,  under  the  direction  of 
Austin  FHnt,  M.  D.  He  graduated  from  the 
Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College  in  1871. 
He  soon  opened  an  office  on  the  west  side 
of  the  city,  near  the  quarters  of  the  poor, 
and  from  that  moment  until  broken  down  in 
health,  in  the  spring  of  1879,  devoted  him- 
self, as  the  writer  of  this  very  well  knows,  to 
the  unpaid  care  of  the  sick  poor.  I  take 
back  the  word  ''unpaid."  He  got  his  reward; 
for,  although  he,  with  exemplary  reticence  and 
meekness,  tried  to  hide  his  beneficence  from 
the  gaze  and  applause  of  his  fellow  men,  it 
was  seen,  we  must  believe,  by  One  who  never 
allows  a  cup  of  cold  water  even  to  be  given, 
in  true  charity,  to  a  sufferer  without  a  note  in 
His  book  of  remembrance  against  the  da}' 
when  earth  and  sea  shall  give  up  their  dead 
for    the    final    judgment. 

After     many     months     of     distressing,    deepen- 


112 

Ing  and  weary  weakness,  and  waiting,  he  passed 
quietly    away. 

A  star  will  mark  his  name  In  our  hst  here, 
and  let  us  fondly  believe  a  star  will  be 
added  to  the  crown  of  that  Master  In  Heaven, 
through  whose  blood  he  trusted  to  be  saved. 
It  was  a  noble  thing  for  him  to  enter  the 
profession,  as  he  did,  at  thirty-three  years  of 
age,  and  to  struggle  that  he  might  do  good 
to  others.  Let  us  not  forget,  then,  that  one 
crowning,    closing    episode    In    his    life. 

No  mere  perfume  of  rhetoric  can  embalm 
a  human  memory.  It  must  live  or  die  in 
virtue  of  Its  own  intrinsic  vitality.  As  we 
turn  away  from  the  new  grave  of  a  departed 
friend  and  colleague,  let  us  ask,  every  man 
ask  himself,  ''Who  next,  and  whither?" — ''Who 
next,    and    whither?" 


OF   THE    LATE 

MRS.    E.    D.    MORGAN,    Jr. 


On  our  busy  and  excited  hearts  death  laid 
his  silence  and  chill,  last  Sunday  morning,  as 
we  heard  that  one  of  the  loveliest,  best  of 
women,  had  been  taken  from  us,  after  twelve 
hours'  Illness.  Mrs.  Morgan  was  a  delicate 
woman,  and  had  never  recovered  from  the 
shock  and  heart-break  of  her  husband's  death, 
which  occurred  last  August.  But  she  was  so 
well  as  to  be  out  on  Saturday  morning,  and 
was  sitting  dressed  at  her  embroidery  when 
the  fatal  pain  In  the  head  announced  the 
coming  end.  So  sudden  and  so  shocking  was 
this  speedy  termination  of  a  most  valuable  life, 
that  her  family  could  hardly  realize  that  she 
had  gone,  as  at  six  o'clock  on  Sunday  only  a 
lifeless    statue    of   beauty    and    repose  lay  before 


114 

them.  She  was  a  woman  of  deHcate  domestic 
intuitions,  and  would  have  preferred  a  quiet 
hfe.  But  the  great  distinction  of  her  father-in- 
law,  as  Governor  and  Senator,  called  her  into 
the  gay  and  brilliant  world  for  many  years, 
and  once  there  she  played  the  part  with  an 
exceeding  elegance.  There  was  nothing  done 
that  was  not  done  well,  and  as  a  wife  and 
mother  she  was  peerless.  Her  devotion  to  her 
husband  was  beyond  all  words,  and  one  may 
really  believe  that  her  grief  at  his  loss  broke 
her  heart.  Beautiful  in  life,  she  was  beautiful 
in  death,  as,  lying  in  her  widow's  weeds  on 
her  bed  of  flowers,  in  her  own  house,  where 
the  picture  of  her  husband  hung  above  her, 
still  dressed  with  the  flowers  she  had  twined, 
her  friends  took  their  last,  tearful  look  of  one 
of  the  most  perfect  of  women.  Her  only  son, 
Edwin  D.  Morgan,  Jr.,  and  the  venerable  Gov- 
ernor and  Mrs.  Morgan,  have  the  sympathy  of 
a  vast  community  in  their  great,  unexpected 
and    most    afflictinir    loss. 

M.  E.  W.  S. 


1/ 


